The events that played out in the National Assembly on 9th June, is a strong indication that our democracy is deepening and a political culture is gradually evolving. The attempt by the PDP in 2011 to interfere in the emergence of the leadership of the House of Representatives was rebuffed by majority of the members leading to the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal and Emeka Ihedioha as Speaker and deputy speaker respectively. The result was an independent House which acted as a critical check on the executive arm in the absence of a strong opposition then. In every political system, there are norms and conventions which define the political culture.
These norms may not be part of the written constitution but are critical to giving effect to the letters of the constitution. Britain has no written constitution. It operates under norms and conventions which evolved over the years through the interpretation and practice of its laws, rules and regulations. Under the presidential system of government adapted by the 1999 constitution (as amended), there are ample provisions that entrench the doctrine of separation of powers. In practice, since 1999, the political elite has done everything in its power to streamline and concentrate power in a manner adverse to the intendment of the provisions of the constitution and the practice of democracy.
The motive behind this power grab is to ensure that the Commonwealth is cornered and concentrated in the hands of a few. These few individuals cynically manipulate and game the system in such a way that the practice of democracy and the operation of its institutions become a sham. For instance, in 1998 a few individuals decided that the country was ripe for the Presidency of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Once the decision was taken, they mobilized the machinery for the manipulation of the electoral process to achieve the desired outcome. Thus, at the PDP Jos convention to elect the party’s flag bearer for the 1999 general elections, Nigerians were denied the opportunity of free and fair presidential primaries. The PDP political intelligentsia who had founded the party on lofty progressive principles were shoved aside to pave way for the establishment’s anointed candidate.
The brilliant and well educated Dr. Alex I. Ekwueme lost the election to General Obasanjo. It was Nigeria’s waterloo. Emerging from many years of clueless military dictatorship, Nigeria would have had the benefit of a fresh beginning with an American style liberal democracy headed by an urbane and articulate president. A good foundation for democracy would have been properly laid. However General Obasanjo came and unleashed on the country a vengeance only an ex-death row inmate is capable of. His pardon became our albatross. Soon it was the turn of Nigerians and those who installed him to ask for his pardon in any way they have offended him. Elected governors were treated like military administrators. One was kidnapped, crated and taken away by a political thug acting on the behest of the presidency. Some were impeached by a handful of members of their Houses of Assembly. The anti-graft agency EFCC turned into a modern era Gestapo. Political enemies were targeted while those considered loyal and friendly were spared.
I spent one month in EFCC cell in Lagos, as a low-level state official, in Abia State, a collateral damage in Obasanjo’s feud with the former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu. Double standard, political intimidations and assassinations thrived. Many fled and the populace was cowed into praise singing. By the time he was done with his legitimate eight year term, Obasanjo sought to extend his tenure in a most cynical and brazen manner but God delivered Nigeria from him. However, he had become so powerful that he didn’t need those “powerful” individuals who installed him to install his successor. He did that single handedly. This is the consequence of allowing a few individuals manipulate a system. Some would argue that political influence is part and parcel of the democratic culture. Yes that is true but not in the way it is practiced in our country.
The practice is highly regulated in all functional democracies essentially to prevent the above scenario and to secure and serve the general good. It quickly turns into a crime when those involved are found to benefit materially or financially from such influence. Here the material gratification is the main reason for seeking such influence and power. A situation where an individual’s claim to fame and stupendous fortune is his ability to manipulate and game the system for his benefit is grossly obscene and has no place in the practice of modern day democracy. It reduces the elected officials to mere puppets.
This should be resisted by all democrats irrespective of party affiliation in the interest of our democracy. Under the presidential system of government, the legislature acts as the watch dog over the activities of the executive branch. How can the leadership of “the watchdog” be determined by those to be watched? And when the legislature acquices to this unholy alliance, is it not democracy and the constitution that is subverted?
I think it is more like match-fixing which is a serious crime. Hiding under the veil of supremacy of party to subvert the will of the people expressed through their elected representatives is unacceptable and does not in any event, change the ultimate beneficiaries of the subversion. It is this desire to foreclose outcomes of political contests by a few individuals that has eroded the credibility of other critical institutions of state like the INEC and the justice system. How can President Muhammadu Buhari condone such an arrangement which short changes the masses? The election of the presiding officers of the National Assembly which took place on 9th June was scheduled for 10am and all those involved were aware of the time and venue. Some chose to attend a party event which is within their right. A quorum was formed and the exercise took place. Does their absence in any way invalidate the exercise? I do not think so.
The president has rightly accepted the exercise as a constitutional process but expressed his preference for the party candidates. This is the beauty of democracy. The president should go a step further to compel his party to accept the outcome as well. Their threat against high ranking officials of state is detrimental to the robust growth of our democracy and a slight on the office of the President. In the aftermath of the elections, the APC released a statement which read inter-alia “APC decried a situation in which some people based on nothing but inordinate ambition and lack of discipline and loyalty will enter into an unholy alliance with the same people whom the party and indeed the entire country worked hard to replace and sell out the hard won victory of the party”.
Well the entire country did not work hard to replace its current elected representatives who took part in the election of their presiding officers on 9th June. The APC no doubt worked hard to replace them but their constituencies rejected the APC candidates in those constituencies just as the PDP candidates were rejected in some constituencies. That is the nature of politics. What should be of concern to the APC now is how to foster unity and create bi-partisan co-operation in the National Assembly. This is critical to the legislative agenda of the President since from experience, not all members of APC will share the party’s position on every national issue that needs legislative approval.
This bi-partisan cooperation cannot thrive in the kind of atmosphere the APC wants to create in the National Assembly and will not serve our national interest. The APC should come out of its victory mode and embrace the hard part of this enterprise which is governance. I have argued elsewhere that the APC victory is good for our country and I still maintain that position. One thing the leaders of the party must bear in mind is that Nigerians have gained a lot of experience and traction in the last sixteen years and will not lower the banner of vigilance for anybody or party. There is a saying in my village that the cane deployed in correcting the errant traveler is usually kept handy for the next errant traveler.
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