Will there be democracy in Nigeria? I read the address by the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander -in-Chief, General Muhammad Buhari, delivered to the members of the Progressive Governors Forum.
In that address, released to the public, by the President of Nigeria as well as the apex of the leadership of the party that called itself the political party of progressives in Nigeria. There major facts that came out from the speech.
First, he said that the party allowed first term governors were allowed to confer second term on themselves.
Second, he said that the party allowed second term governors were allowed to appoint whoever they like as their successors and gubernatorial candidates for the party.
Third, he said that, flowing from this unique democratic process, the president should be allowed to appoint his own successor and therefore the presidential candidate.
I asked myself that, given this unique democratic process, why are people asked to purchase application forms and participate in primaries the results of which are already predetermined and dependent on the wishes and preferences of single individuals?
I asked myself what is the role of members of the party in appointing the candidates and flag-bearers?
I asked myself why the party will be so filled impunity that it flaunted the irrelevance of the party members to their faces and that of the public?
If this is democracy that the party of progressives internally practice, what kind of democracy can it midwife?
I wonder what Woodrow Wilson, who introduced the concept of progressives between 1915-1918, would think of this peculiar democratic process?
I wonder what earlier progressives in Nigeria like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Kano, Herbert Macaulay, Anthony Enahoro would think of this unusual democratic process?
Democracy does not allow for a Board of Guardians, no matter how intelligent, patriotic and nationalistic. Their intellect cannot be a substitute for the collective wisdom, or even lack of it, of the people.
Nigerians are tired of those whose heads have been plugged in to the political circuitry of Nigeria for decades.
Nigerians are not happy with those whose collective experience and expertise brought us to this unhappy doldrums where our economy have collapsed, our cultural and moral values debauched and our security completely unguaranteable.
Nigerians do not believe that those who destroyed the architecture of our nation can be given the task of rebuilding what they destroyed.
Nigerians are perhaps looking for fresh voices, fresh minds, fresh ideas, fresh thoughts to break the contemporary contradictions and inanities.
The collective prayers of all of us is that those who have usurped our democratic rights will do what is right, and best for Nigeria.
Amb. Farounbi OON is Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the Philippines
