Democracy of hypocrisy

Dogara

“If there were mistakes that were made, we must admit that God allowed these mistakes to make the way for another person’s destiny to happen.” That was a statement made by a Nigerian statesman in direct reference to the last national assembly elections and leadership tussle which rocked the Nigerian democratic boat.

Democrats in this country have not learned and honed the art of separatingreligious affairs from state affairs. They assume falsely that the Almighty Creator is a politician and is interested in the religious drivel called ‘thanksgiving’ to celebrate electoral victories – accepted by ministers who have all compromised and are running His vineyard with blip.

We gather that the delay in naming House of Representatives positions is to avoid a situation where a particular, “position must not go to the South-West and North-East because the two zones have already produced the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.” It was further stated: “Insistence on having all zones fill the six top positions in the House is in the interest of peace and unity of Nigeria.”

My question to the leaders of both Houses of Parliament is simple: How would they have reacted if both houses of the Federal parliament were
occupied by southern political behemoths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against party directives? Wouldn’t that house, be a boiling cauldron?

We make the polity hot under the collar needlessly to the detriment of national growth. We preach fairness, equity, justice and peace, but
smother the aspiration of other regions or ethnic groups and forget thatours is a weak democracy in a fickle country that needs peace most of all.

Many have attacked my inclination for power-sharing as outdated and not intune with avant-gardism. I dare to ask, is government of national unityfor peace alien to Africa and why did Sudan adopt a quota system in her quest to distribute political offices? Let me not bore you with how
Germany brought together her diverse peoples or with story of Switzerland and her Cantons.

I wish we can learn and borrow the ‘equity model’ from Delta State. Two major ethnic groups have tasted power (James Ibori representing Delta
South), (Emmanuel Uduaghan representing the Itsekiris), and now Delta North’ – Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. I wish the reverse were the case in Rivers State, where Chibuike Amaechi was a past governor and now Nyesom Wike (both Ikwerre).

How I wished State of Benue was governed not only by the Tiv since 1999 but shared with other ethnic nationalities within the state. The major reason that led to the war of attrition between the Tiv and the Igala before the creation of Kogi State was the tendency by the Tiv to seek to monopolise power. The Tiv always seek to dominate other ethnic groups.

Aren’t the Idoma, Agatu and Egede qualified to rule Benue State? It would appear this shortcoming runs through all the ethnic groups everywhere. Take, for example, the Igala. They have not behaved any better. They have done the same since the creation of Kogi State. What kind of democracy would discountenance the importance of other groups that are equally qualified
to be at the helms? It is the same in Kaduna State.

Are the people of Southern Kaduna only fit to assume the position of deputy governor? Are others only fit to be deputy governors in Adamawa State and many other places where there are many indigenous stocks as minorities? Are other indigenous minorities considered for the position of deputy governors elsewhere? Can any person from the Zuru stock ever become
governor of Kebbi State?

We should remember that there are many worthy, able and competent people who can and should rightly aspire to govern and serve their people whether in a governor’s chair, a presidential Chamber and even on a throne. What is needed is governance that aspires to nationhood with equality and reasonable standards of living for all.

What kind of philosophy does Nigeria democracy work with – and with what guiding principles should this democracy be practised for the benefit of all? Nigerians asked for change and pushed the boat out soon after, because they know that this country is too big, too complex to be left in the hands of leaders who chose to veer off from the nationalistic ethos of their party and, left people, who were hungry for the benefits of democracy – in the lurch.

Real democracy respects the values and rights of all, and – that includes those of the minorities. It ensures that minorities can be elected as executives without discrimination. Non-indigenes win elective positions in Lagos — (Why only in State of Lagos)-and not on the basis of religion. Real democracy should see people of various tribes cohabiting, not living in separate quarters and fringes of the town.

Real democrats create the ambiance to fight against discrimination, the same way Nelson Mandela affirmed thus: “As we destroyed apartheid so too can we defeat poverty and discrimination if we are united.”

It is anticipated, that the present crop of the political class would continually stress the appalling plight in the polity – triggered by leaders who have not bothered to look inward, to tie together the massive resources within and, develop the country like the politicians of pre-and-post-independence did before the military intervention in 1966 instead of vainly making a case for oil and its proceeds for all. Aren’t we carrying out the democracy of hypocrisy in Nigeria?

Abah wrote from Port Harcourt. abah_s@yahoo.com