BY IKENNA OODO
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Nigeria, there is fire on the mountain. The president and his clique are on rampage. They are dangerously pushing the country to the precipice. It is absolute bunkum to pretend that all is well with Nigeria. There is every cause for alarm, danger is looming over the landscape. The nation is seething with palpable anxiety and uncertainty, grief-striken, distraught and flustered.
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From primary school, Nigerians teach their children that there is a system of government called democracy. They teach them that the best definition of that system of government is that given by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States of America, which says that “democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.” But before the 2023 elections, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is now the president of Nigeria told Nigerians that it was his turn to rule and unconscionably redefined democracy and election process to suit his ambition. He told his supporters that, “political power is not going to be served in a restaurant. They don’t serve it la carte. At all cost, fight for it, grab it and run with it.” And true to this claim, the president did exactly that to win the election even against the wish of the Nigerian majoriy.
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President Tinubu’s administration has continued to stirr reactions over the true character of his governance; whether it is a democratic or autocratic system. While some commend his administration for being bold and decisive, others perceive a concerning pattern of executive rascality and contempt for the rule of law. This controversy therefore raises a crucial question whether Nigeria is still a democratic nation or metamorphosizing into autocratic government?
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By definition, democracy is a system where the people wield the ultimate power through elected leaders. However, the individuals who are elected to uphold these values most times become the perpetrators of their erosion. This system of government is fundamentally about the people’s will, exercised through their elected representatives, and guided by the rule of law. It thrives on respect for rule of law, supremacy of the law, and regards for fundamental human rights. Contrary to this, political occurrences under Tinubu’s government raises concerns whether these principles are being upheld. This contradiction makes one wonder if executive arbitrariness and contempt for the rule of law have a place in democracy
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Consequently, the implication of such executive overreach are profound and farreaching. It erodes public trust in governance, leaving citizens disillusioned and apathetic. The conviction that leaders are accountable to no one fosters a tradition of cynicism, where people no longer see the value in participating in democratic processes. These and many more have become persistent thorn in the flesh of many democratic nations including Nigeria. This does not only undermines public trust but also endangers the essence of democracy itself.
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Additionally, the rule of law becomes mere illusion when leaders place themselves above it. Judicial interference, disregard for court judgement, and selective prosecution compromise the integrity of the justice system. When justice is perceived as biased or influenced by political machinations, citizens lose faith in the institutions meant to protect them.
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Nobody is safe in Nigeria. Almost everybody fears every other person. Both the oppressed and the oppressors, and the rich and the poor are all living in fear and trepidation. The administration exudes executive excesses, from the use of state apparatus to silencing opposition voices to controversial policy decisions that seem to sideline public yearnings. The concentration of power in the presidency and the apparent disregard and muscling of legislative and judicial checks by the administration also raises eyebrows.
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We did not just see the danger coming. We have been living with it for many years running. While we cry out for help, the gladiators who in the name of leadership have remained more interested in hijacking the totality of political power and refused to see the need for addressing the root cause of the danger.
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As the public expectations of the administration shifts from hope to disillusionment, the consequences for governance are dire. History is replete with examples of leaders who, intoxicated by the euphoria of power, forget the principles that earned them the people’s mandate. The result is a descent into autocracy clothed as democracy. The masses who feel alienated and powerless lose faith in the government, leading to apathy and restivenes. This erosion of trust not only undermines the legitimacy of the government but also destabilizes the democratic fabric of the nation.
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Conclusively, whether President Tinubu’s government is democratic or autocratic is difficult to convincingly establish as his administration exhibits attitudes of both system of government. But one thing remains clear: democracy must not be reduced to mere rhetoric. It must be reflected in action, governance, and respect for the rule of law. The illusion of democracy is not enough; Nigerians deserve the real thing which is a government truly by the people and for the people as professed by Abraham Lincoln.
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OODO was a media aide to the immediate-past Chairman of Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.
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