DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA IS A FICTION

Oluwatobi Odeyinka

It is a fiction well scripted in a book we call constitution, while the actors make occasional alterations to suit their selfish desires. The only good that the appellation of democracy has offered Nigerians is to give them a false hope for change every four years. Consequently, we recycle villains and dramatic personas for new episodes.

The white man had committed no crime by compelling us to embrace democracy, against our cultural monarchical system of rulership. Democracy had and is still performing wonders in other climes and shaping the lives of peoples positively. However, the Whiteman erroneously assumed that the most populous black nation in the world was sane enough to operate a system of government where every individual has a voice in a multitude. That is ‘Democracy’. Abraham Lincoln defined it as Government of, for, and by the people; Aristotle says it is a system whereby the will of the majority is supreme. Apparently, all of these do not reflect the Nigerian society.

Do you include Nigeria in a list of countries where the people enjoy freedom of speech, rule of law, social justice, and other good qualities of democracy? You should wake up already and stop dreaming. Democracy is a scam in this part of the world and the evidences stare at you everyday – on the pages of newspapers, on your television set, on the internet, and everywhere.

A critical look at our statute book, the 1999 constitution, would further buttress the point that Nigeria’s democracy is illusory. Here is a constitution that was handed over by an autocratic military regime with no input of the Nigerian populace. Here is a constitution that gives you freedom of speech in section 39 and withdraws it in section 45. Here is a constitution that promises various fundamental human rights but makes no attempt to punish violators of those rights. Little wonder the Nigerian Police which is supposed to protect the lives and property of citizens is notorious for brutalizing the same citizens at the slightest provocation.

Democratic nations are nations that thrive on democratic principles. Such principles include; Separation of power and a valid system of checks and balances. Of course, our own democracy is fictional; the 1999 constitution puts the legislative and judicial arms at the mercy of the executive. If you think the judiciary is independent, consult section 231 of the constitution and see the rhetoric in such autonomy. The President, who is the head of the executive, is empowered to hire and fire the Chief Justice of the Federation, including Judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Federal High Courts. Do we need to explain the meaning of independence?

Another principle of democracy is the right to protest. Omoyele Sowore, the Publisher of Sahara Reporters, and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, took the honour of exercising such right on behalf of millions of aggrieved Nigerians, who would rather keep quite than demand from their government, that which is right. Sowore was picked up like a criminal by the Department of Security Services (DSS) for alleged “act of terrorism”. Isn’t that laughable? From the same government that is negotiating with bandits in Zamfara.

In countries that operate the democratic system of government, it is the constitution that spells out the extent and limit of power exercisable by the leaders, but this is Nigeria. Where the President believes, “The rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of national security and national interest.” How do we explain the unlawful detention of Ibrahim Elzakzaky, leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, even after various courts of competent jurisdiction had granted him bail. This is a testimony of the fictional elements in the democracy we operated.

I should conclude my argument by asserting that Nigeria is a hybrid state of Oligarchy and Autocracy; we would join the league of democratic nations when there is incontestable regard for the rule of law; when the constitution is amended to reflect true democratic principles; when there is undiluted separation of power; and when the media, rather than being harassed and pressured, is allowed to freely operate as the forth estate of the realm.