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For the Sake of Democracy in Seasons of Anomie
LOVERS of freedom will ever cherish democracy even if it is a product of a flawed of election. At least, aggrieved persons have the chance to contest their defeat in the court of appropriate jurisdiction. Indeed, it is the beauty of democracy that brought Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Peter Obi to power after they had been adjudged to have lost the struggle for power. It is the beauty of democracy that made PDP to congratulate Peter Obi of APGA after defeat of Prof. Soludo of the ruling party. Democracy empowers the weak to free themselves from those who control the lever of power.
In India where the military has never intervened in democratic governance despite contradictions that are shrouded in ethnic diversities and religious differences, one of the nationalists that served as its first Prime Minister, Jawararlal Nehru once told fellow citizens that “democracy is good. I say this because other systems are worse.” Indeed, totalitarianism as witnessed under military regime in Nigeria for 35 years was more reprehensible and intolerable than the worst form of democracy. It was exploitation and naked kleptomania without redress. It was thiefry with impunity. It was aberrative and unaccountable. Under democracy, even as the trial of ex-governors who were alleged to have looted the treasuries of their states was put on hold by legal technicalities, the rule of law made it possible for anti-graft agencies to parade them in courts. Even if they are not jailed at the end of the day, the court of public opinion as expressed through the instrumentality of mass media, has perpetually put them in the circle of odium and disrepute. It is better imagined than having the stories told when one goes on memory lane to take stock of pro-democracy activists that were either killed or maimed before a new dawn in 1999. Nobody wish to have that dark era again. It is better to accept the tutorials of nascent democracy, no matter the grave pitfalls. This is what speaker Oladimeji Bankole has been gingering his colleagues to appreciate in the course of their debate.
Harry Emerson, a political philosopher once made a submission saying “democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extra-ordinary possibilities in the ordinary people.” Left for other forms of government, what would have brought out some sons of peasant to the extent of being legislators, Governors, Ministers, Presidents and Vice Presidents? Luck alone wouldn’t have brought Goodluck Jonathan from the creeks of Bayelsa to be Acting President. Democracy and the will to work hard towards a goal shared by democrats performed that feat. Yet, pro-democracy activists were not direct beneficiaries of fruits of democracy but they worked for common good.
The signals from neighbouring countries vis-à-vis the season of mistrust in Nigeria in the recent time has put patriots in a lurch. Nigeria is not operating a feudal system where the activities of the monarch are shrouded in mysteries at the whims and caprices of palace chiefs. When there are warning signals in a season of uncertainty, a fear-stricken nation learns from the lessons of her neighbours. In West Africa, so far, Ghana is the only country where the nationals seemed to have resolved that the democratic journey towards attainment of perfection is irreversible. It conducted a free and fair election where the candidate of the then sitting president lost. The international community as witnessed by the visit of President Barack Obama, affirmed the enviable democratic culture and its attendant results in Ghana where coups and counter coups were once upon a time, a recurrent decimal. Within a short time when democratic nations began to organize banquet in appreciation of a semblance of democracy in majority of African nations, two countries have come under totalitarian regimes, an unapologetic feature of the dictatorship of the military. In what was akin to third tenure saga under Obasanjo’s tenure, former President of Niger Republic, Mamoudu Tadjan, breached the constitution of his country and embarked on the wild goose chase of conducting referendum for third tenure. The military led by Major Adamu Haruna seized an opportunity they have been waiting for. They oust Tadjan out of power and formed Supreme Council for Restoration of Democracy, a situation where the legislative and executive arms are in mixed grill at the whims and caprices of the military jaunta. Indeed, this was a dangerous signal from a Nigerian neighbour which even enjoys electricity supply from a country that has the worst energy crisis on the globe. All the officers involved in the coup were trained in Nigeria Defence Academy. In Guinea, Camara-led coup had tied down democracy. The resolve of the people to protest against military insurgence brought about killing of protesters. Violence begets violence. Camara was shot by his own Aide De Camp (ADC).
In Nigeria, no one can conveniently and convincingly assert that there is permanent armour against military coup. The anti-dote against military intervention is good governance premised on transparency. Since the ill-health of President Yar’Adua and consequent absence for 93 days, there has been national anxiety. The Minister of Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili has also admitted that Nigeria is not out of wood because of persistent political logjam. Most of the decisions that were taken including the resolutions of National Assembly premised on doctrine of necessity were intended to strengthen democracy and preclude military adventurists from benefiting from national adversity. Nigerians accepted Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President because that was the nearest solution to the seemingly irredeemable logjam shrouded in hide-and-seek game.
So far, Jonathan has proved that he is loyal to his principal in good and bad times. Yet, he has no to access to the president even as he was brought back from Saudi Arabia under cloudy circumstance. Nobody has ever worked as a superior of the Acting President and accused him of disloyalty and inordinate ambition. Up till today, the Acting President calls the former Bayelsa State Governor, DSP Alamieseigha who stepped on the proverbial banana peel and fell, as his legendary boss. The Acting President was said to be behind the plea bargain that gave Alamieseigha air of freedom.
For the sake of beefing up democracy in a country that has a culture of political instability, if his principal was airborne from Saudi Arabia after 93 days of absence which was shrouded in political logjam, he ought to be informed to make the statecraft receptive to his arrival. Whoever mobilized troops to the Airport and Strategic locations without the knowledge of the Acting President should know that the doctrine of necessity conferred the status of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces on Jonathan until the president writes to National Assembly that he is well enough to resume presidential responsibilities. I guessed that when the Acting President was told at the early hours on the fateful day of the president’s return that there were armed soldiers in strategic locations, his mind must have been restless on the possible consequences of such security breach. To make the matter worse unverified, sources close to the Acting President averred that all the telephone lines Defence Chiefs were temporarily put off. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Abdulrahaman Dambazau has not attracted positive publicity in the media since the airport saga. He was pushed to the corner of defending himself in manner that raised more questions than answers. Nothing has changed the status of the Acting President before and after the Airport saga.
The American Embassy has to come out forcefully without diplomatic veil to warn the presidential aides against causing unnecessary tension in the polity. Nigeria had had enough tension since the president left the country and come back. Nigerians love their president because he took some bold populist steps to the extent of offending the sensibility of his godfather and predecessor, Chief Obasanjo. He is the custodian of our destiny. Transparency, a vital ingredient of democracy, enjoins us, at least, the leadership of National Assembly, the Ministers, Governors, Chief Judge and the Acting President to have access to our standard bearer, the president. Those who claim to be closer to the president than others, should not allow the empathy of Nigerians who prayed and fasted on his behalf to diminish because of unwarranted power game using inaccessibility as a weapon. It was matter of respite when a press statement was issued reaffirming Acting President status of Dr. Jonathan. Nigerians expect that in the struggle for power, we should lay bare some indices that strengthen democracy. Under democratic culture, sovereignty belongs to the people. They deserved to know the recovery level of their president so that they can prepare for greater democratic challenges. This is a season that all patriots must rise to the challenge of protecting democratic institutions rather than looking for scapegoats of power game.
For the sake of democracy and the sustainenance of an open society, our dear president is entitled to all the privileges of a sitting president. It would not do any one anything good if he is shielded from the cabinet, the media and Nigerians who have the right to know about the well being of the custodian of their collective destiny. Mistakes are meant to be corrected. No mistake should be strong enough to increase our predicament. Democracy is not absence of crisis but ability to resolve differences when the need arises.

Goodluck Jonathan, Acting President

             CRUMB
More Carrots for Youths
MONUMENTS are built on the streets but legacies are built in people’s hearts. Indeed, that is why Chief Obafemi Awolowo is still being celebrated by those he touched their lives when he was premier of Western Region. Alhaji Ibrahim Idris also wish to built legacies in people’s hearts.
Among other things the governor has been doing in the Confluence State, is the perchant to place human resource development on higher pedestal. The youths form the most productive segment. Just as I wrote last week that several youths are aides of the Governor, others are being appointed as a means of appreciating to appreciate their talents and resourcefulness.
Mr. Egene Samson, (Alisa SOSO) is a multi-talented artiste in area of motivational talk-show. He is also a gospel singer as well as an example of youths who effect changes through peaceful means. He recently came to my desk at The Graphic over his appointment as Special Assistant to the Governor. In his usual poetic style in playing up comedy shrouded in issues. He said, “I have become honourable man but I will not be horrible with what God has given me. Out of this gift, I shall give 20 per to God. Fellow human beings shall share 20 per cent of my income and 60 per cent shall be for me.”
While thanking Governor Idris for what he had done for him, he acknowledges that the heart of a king is in God’s hands. My friend Austin Ochu, a renowned broadcaster, a new Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, has similar banquet of appreciation for the State Chief Executive. It could be another man’s turn tomorrow. Let us felicitate with this lucky youths.
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