Our Brand of Democracy By Hamisu Gumel
For a good decade now, democracy has been for sale
in Nigeria.
It has been for sale as development, as freedom, as political
liberty and as human rights, but never has it been proffered as
insecurity, dictatorship,
human rights abuse,
impunity, political rascality and failure of leadership. We have
been inundated and rattled by glittering superlatives on democracy
to the extent that if some one would suggest an alternative system
of life and governance, swift condemnation and denunciations would
rain on such person describing him as primitive and undemocratic.
Indeed democracy, as a term, has become an imposed deity to be
liturgically worshipped by all.
But in truth and essence, what
benefit can we say this democracy (the way we are made to see it in
Nigeria) brought to the general populace, especially the poor
Nigerian masses vis-à-vis it's much touted benevolence? We have been
promised dividends of democratic rule by the rulers, but, like a
mirage, we have seen nothing to that effect save insecurity,
poverty, closure of schools, absence of infrastructure and mass
killings, abuse of citizens’ rights by the security operatives and,
recently, a spate of bomb blasts across the country.
With the recent explosion of bombs in
some places across the country, including the Federal Capital
Territory, the writing is now boldly on the wall that Nigeria is
making a descent into an anarchic situation, a failed state. In
other words, this is a clear sign of breakdown of law and order in
the country where now governments at all levels failed to carry out
the basic function of protection of the lives and property of the
citizenry. And, the most worrying thing is that the government is
not showing serious concern about this dangerous situation of
absence of security in the country where poor, defenceless citizens
lost their lives on almost daily basis as a result of one form of
violence or another, beyond the issuance of condemnatory statements.
This, also, is an obvious indication of the government’s lack of
respect or regard for the lives of her citizens.
We are saddled, in this country, with
irresponsible leaders and politicians that in the face of dangerous
situation the nation is in, they carry on with their usual manner
and ways of doing things for the satisfaction of their selfish
interest. Yet we are supposed to be operating a democratic system, a
system which is adjudged the world over to be the best system of
governance that offers people freedom and prosperity. Today,
everything in this country has changed to the worst, as political
marauders and buccaneers take charge of our affairs exhibiting
highest degree of irresponsibility. Their ultimate aim is attaining
power for the sake of it and nothing more. Now as the 2011 general
elections are around the corner, you see them busy planning for what
each one of them could be able to grab of the juicy leadership
positions while the country boils and is heading toward a precipice.
They are bent on grabbing power and spare no effort employing all
forms of dastardly scheming through whatever means available to them
(including violence and election rigging) to see to the realization
of their aims. And we still call this democracy!
It is unfortunate that the current Nigerian
government is still running about singing democratic
principles and rule
of law. From 1999 when this set of civilian rule was ushered in to
this day, the level of poverty in the country has plummeted to a
highest decimal point thereby further pauperizing the citizenry and
jeopardising our existence. Thanks to our civilian rulers who hide
behind the toga of democracy and rule of law and perpetrate the
highest
crimes against the nation while at the
same time coming around to proclaim the virtues of democracy and
civil rule and condemning the military. But are the military men now
not better than them? At least, the military, despite its
suppressive nature, did not perpetrate such kind of corruption and
thievery and the security situation wasn’t as pathetic as the
present. Deception has been the habit of the supposedly elected
leaders. And, perhaps, it is this habit of theirs that emboldened
criminal groups in the country, who are currently holding the nation
to ransom, to have their field day at our collective expense.
Yes, this is the feature of our
shallow brand of democracy sanctioned and celebrated by our brand of
leaders. They never stop promising us juicy dividends of democracy,
and every while the citizens looked with new hope. But that hope
always withered and washed away like sand on the rock blown away by
the wind, as the promise turned to be a gigantic tomfoolery.
They promised us security of lives and properties.
But what we see is an unprecedented rise in armed-robbery and
kidnappings among the major insecurity situations in the country. As
the armed
robbery,
kidnappings- for-ransom and bomb explosions take their terrible
tolls on our dear nation, our security operatives continue to stroll
around in their newly-acquired armoured vehicles in an apparent
display of power. Instead of hunting down the criminals, they end up
killing and harassing the innocent citizens.
We have been promised development. But what
development have we seen than the development and flourishing of
corruption and impunity in the corridors of power. The much-coveted
mantra of rule of law is now a historical relic. Multiple examples
abound: the case of former corrupt governors now straddling the
corridors of power with a ridiculous hilarity; the James
Ibori shielding
scandal; the Siemens and Halliburton cases e.t.c. – they are all
swept under the carpet and forgotten. And the culprits are still
there roaming the corridors of power with utmost impunity and a
sense of arrogance.
They promised us political freedom
and choice. But when last did we have a free and fair election where
our votes (not their selfish choices) really counted? In place of
elections, it is now a selection process. A democracy without
peoples’mandate! "We have made our selections for you, so just
follow," they seemed to be saying rather ridiculously.
Therefore, since this system of civilian rascality
we pretend to be calling democracy has failed to deliver us to the
promised land, and in fact, is the very bane of ours, why then can't
we reject it and adopt the way to our total salvation and
emancipation? How can we continue to delude ourselves with the
outdated thinking of "democracy is the only option" or "it is our
own on the saddle, so lets support him," following a cabal of elite
who don't mean good to us as they continue to milk the country dry
to the chagrin of all of us? A government that fear the anger of
foreign countries more than sparing the lives of its citizens is not
a
responsible government.
A country that continues to pauperize her citizens and celebrating
the corrupt and criminals is far from being democratized.
It is now for us to unite on a
collective stance to save our collective destiny from being ruined
by unpatriotic elements. We must shade our minds of that blind
followership mentality and make sure no ruler whose hands are wet
with the blood of innocent people or the one who wasted our
resources and years without anything to drive home with, return to
power in 2011 as a start. This we shall do by standing up to our
rights and protecting our votes. |