Nigerian politicians seem determined, from all indications, to wrap the country’s contributions to the evolution of democratic governance, in infamy.
Where the country once stood as a beacon of hope for the black race, the present crop of political leaders seems out to rubbish any hope.Their conduct makes it difficult to believe that anything good can come out of Nigeria, especially in the present age.
The brazen assault on basic principles and value of decency by political office holders of the day, has become too steep, and makes redemption seem almost out of sight.
In truth, the present rot in Nigeria’s political system should not be a surprise. The rule of garbage in, garbage out, is still valid.
Expectations that individuals whose profile are mired in one malfeasance or another, should, on getting to a political office, transform into new creatures, with brand new wholesome character and inclination, is actually naïve.
Curiously, that is predominantly how Nigerians think. Repeatedly. They consistently build their hope on a possibility that a Barabbas will turn into a redeemer once he gets to a political office, either as president, governor, legislator, or an appointed prime official. It has never turned out that way.
There is no aspect of the fundamental structure of true democracy that has not been corrupted in Nigeria, at the moment. These corrosive conducts are euphemistically called politics. In reality, however, they are, either treachery or manifestation of some serious character deficiencies, that are not in tandem with good governance.
When, recently, the leadership of the National Assembly, totally breached the Constitution, at a critical juncture, where the legislature was called upon to decide on the critical issue of State of Emergency in River State, one more major damage was done to constitutionalism in the country.
There were only few muted protestations of the illegality, both among the legislators and from the larger society, beyond the now totally muzzled real opposition voices. Nigeria moved on.
Sadly, after any of such breach or assault on fundamental principles of good governance and law,the legs on which constitutionalism rests, are further weakened.It takes outright dishonesty not to see that Nigeria is badly wobbling.
While the legislature has been a monumental let down, the situation at the judiciary has been become a tragedy.The once last hope of the common man,offers no hope any more,except to the powers that be.A number of the judges do not even seem to care, anymore, about what the public thinks, or what the future may say about them.
The era of judges keeping a long distance between themselves and politicians has now gone. It seems only a matter of time before judges will be found at fund raising event of politicians.Even this no longer seems far-fetched. A number of their lordships comfortably cosy up to top politicians in public, only to resume their reserved, supposedly apolitical seats the next morning, from where they give judgment on sensitive matters. And Nigeria moves on.
It makes sense that the blight of indiscipline and value corrosion that has seriously undermined democracy in Nigeria, will aim first at the political parties, which are the root of the political system.
Undermined, both from within and from outside, most of the present political parties in Nigeria are, at best, empty shells. In many instances,these exist as trading outposts.Political parties have turned into platforms for negotiating and selling off whatever capital party officials can muster.
At party primaries, party officials sell tickets of the party to the highest bidder. There is hardly any consideration,any more,for fidelity to the values of the party.
There is hardly any political party in the country at the moment, that even obeys its own rules. Then after party primaries, the party leaders move on to open negotiations with opposition parties, with a view to trading off their own candidates and interests, for whoever offers higher price. This has largely become the case among party leaders.
It has become, not a thing of shame and reprimand, but a mark of strength, to see a top member of a political party, bragging opening that he worked against his party’s candidate during the previous election. Such is the rot and shamelessness that now pervades the political landscape.
It is unlikely that any other society exhibits such indiscipline and treachery.But Nigeria moves on.
The era in which the likes of Solomon D. Lar, Adisa Akinloye, Waziri Ibrahim, etc, held sway as principled party chairmen, has since gone in history. In those days, presidents and governors were beholden to party authority. Elected political office holders reported to party offices for meetings,not the party leadership hanging around at state house for attention. Party chairmen did not hang around at State Houses.
If a party were to enter into an alliance with another party, the leadership of the two or three parties involved would painstakingly work out details of the accord. Whatever arrangement they reached, guided what the elected office holders did, both at the executive and legislative ends. The party was supreme. There was order and decency. Not anymore.
A few weeks ago, Dr. Bukola Saraki, former president of the Senate, had cause to repudiate a media report, ascribed to him, on realigment for 2027 elections. The report had quoted Saraki as saying that not less than six or so, governors of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were clandestinely working for Bola Tinubu and his All Progressives Congress (APC), towards Tinubu’s second term bid.
Two years into his tenure and with so much, overwhelmingly so much, yet to be done, it is instructive that the focus in political discourses at the moment, is not how to get Tinubu to perform well, but how to get him re-elected in 2027. This, however,is not the issue here.
The report ascribed to Saraki, quoted him as expressing unwillingness to subscribe to any opposition alignment at the moment, mainly because some PDP governors are either moles, or not ready to fund the party.
Saraki’s media team dismissed the report, insisting it did not come from him.
That repudiation by the former senate president notwithstanding, the substance of the report is presently being affirmed by developments.
That PDP is presently dominated by individuals who are working openly against it, is not hidden. It is uncertain,really, what type of intricate surgical operation can be carried out to save the PDP, without it dying at the operating table.
Sadly, the root of the PDP malaise can be traced to strong men within its fold refusing to obey the basic rules of the party. Interestingly, the major protagonists of the crisis that have laid the party prostrate keep pointing accusing fingers away from themselves.
Last week, the substance of the report ascribed to Saraki, which he earlier repudiated, was largely confirmed.
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, a pastor, elected on the platform of the PDP, declared openly, that he has endorsed Tinubu,the APC candidate for 2027.By implication,Eno is working for APC.
Pastor Eno says he does not know how to speak from two sides of his mouth. Obviously,he does not see anything wrong in having two of his hands in his mouth at the same time. The governor remains in PDP.
By his position, Governor Eno will be attending the strategy and operational planning meetings of PDP at the highest level. A party that has not been able to take a definitive stance on who its Secretary is, will, for sure, not have the strength to ask a governor that has publicly declared his allegiance to an opposition party, to excuse it. What an incestuous, treacherous arrangement!
There is nothing that prevents Governor Eno from clinically separating himself from PDP and declaring for APC. That will be the path of honour, especially for a pastor. But honour has a different definition in Nigeria.
Now, it has turned out, also in line with the story Saraki repudiated, that no less than three other PDP governors, are said to be mulling joining APC. Mark you, all these governors, are already working for Tinubu and APC, to all intents and purposes.
The governors mentioned are Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Siminalayi Fubara of River State, in addition to Eno of Akwa Ibom State. Everyone understands the case of Fubara. His is a case of a hostage doing everything necessary to regain his freedom, so not much should be made of his matter.
If ever there was any uncertainty about the total ruination of the political system and political process in Nigeria, the debacle is now confirmed. A situation where governors elected from a major opposition party are now openly canvassing support for their nemesis, while their party leadership is incapable of sanctioning them, speaks of the putrid reality of what Nigeria calls its democracy.How some of the governors came to office is, without doubt, a factor.
For almost all of these governors, obviously,it is all about political survival. This,indeed, is the devil gift; to survive politically, they have to die to principle.
