Guardian Nigeria
Unsurprisingly, the United States of America (USA) hatchet jobbers in their recently circulated report on the Nigerian elections in 2023 failed to acknowledge the air of despondency that engulfed the majority of Nigerians after Mammud Yakubu’s announcement of the outcome of the allegedly compromised polls. Lions will always goad their prey.
Is it not telling, the disregards that these people have for Africans, that Donald Trump, for paying a hush money to a prone star and for soliciting for extra votes in Georgia, is now in court charged with attempts to influence the American elections in 2020?
Imagine what would have happened to him if his supporters were openly seen snatching ballot boxes, intimidating voters and falsifying election results. Africans, decide on how you wish to be seen, whether as humans or less of humans; the choice is entirely ours.
Like most Nigerians, after that charade in 2023, I found myself rigid in disbelief. How Nigeria could ever be a serious country if it continues making mockery of elections, one wondered.
In my stillness, I could only respond to the urge of taking a cursory look at the philosophical reasoning on how the modern state came about, its role and that of its citizens. My brief re-introduction to the works of the proponents of the 18th – 19th centuries enlightenment values aroused within questions like, what is Nigeria, what is its role in the lives of its citizens in the 21st century, who are Nigerians, do Nigerians have the mental capacity to be truly citizens, what are the values that are common amongst Nigerians of which they would proudly invite the world to emulate. There are still many questions to ask about Nigeria’s existence and its role in the 21st century world.
Why such deep reflections on the 2023 elections, some might ask. After all, the 2023 elections outcomes were mere re-enactments of the usual elections’ rituals in Nigeria, which are devoid of real meaning. Hence, a good reason why not many Nigerians bother with asking deep questions on the conduct of, and the officially announced outcomes of elections. But the fact that elections in Nigeria, their conduct and the official results are accepted as they are given, should not, and must not be accepted as the norm. Otherwise, Nigerians cannot become members of the 21st world citizens. Elections have meaning. It is through elections that citizens exercise their inalienable rights to choose their representatives and government; without the peoples’ consent, any government so formed becomes illegitimate. And citizens are duty bound to disobey any law made by an illegitimate government.
Why 2023 elections must not be left unsatisfactorily resolved
A huge amount of public resources was employed to make those elections transparent and re-establish peoples’ confidence in the electoral process/democracy. This did not happen. Not making serious inquiries into the 2023 elections would mean that Nigerians would have spent astronomical amount of money without corresponding outcomes, and wittingly aided and supported national crime.
Specific laws were enacted to govern the conduct, and how the results of these particular elections and how future elections are to be managed. Those laws were flagrantly ignored. Laws must be followed, or citizens would be morally right to take actions to protect themselves and their interests as required by the laws of nature, see Thomas Hobbs, Jean Jacques Rousseau and John Locke.
The conduct of the ‘’Supreme Court’’ at the presidential election petitions made it to lose some respect. No serious society functions when its citizens lose respect for its judiciary.
Those who deliberately sabotage elections in Nigeria do so, always in the knowledge that Nigerians are quick to move on. Such moving-on is inimical to human progress. One of the hallmarks of human civilization is that at the very occasion a national body causes serious public displeasure, an inquiry is set up to interrogate the officials involved so that lessons are learned. And those found culpable in wrongful acts are sanctioned in accordance with the relevant laws.
One of the reasons the Europeans think that Africans have undeveloped minds, which can be inferred from the USA’s report on the last elections, is due to our lack of determination to deal with barbaric behaviours and provide antidotes to delinquents. Election riggers are social deviants and delinquents. They should be social outcasts and not ‘’our rulers’’.
For those who are unhappy that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate’s votes in Rivers State were openly and egregiously harvested for Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023, be ready for more heartaches in 2027, if that heinous crime is completely forgotten. A known fact about Nigerian electoral thieves is that they get bolder as their crimes go unpunished.
Solemn reflection to provoke deep thinking
There are ample reasons we should be spending huge amount of time on individual and collective reflections. For instance, how many Africans wonder why the whole world treats us in a condescending manner? We must answer this question – can Africans really think? All these questions should not be simply dismissed by bluffing and blustering.
Why is it that the only humans sold as slaves on industrial scale are now willingly offering themselves as slaves in the 21st century?
Why is it that every nation that wants to industrialise relies on getting African raw materials on the cheap or, by offering us demeaning gifts – in the 19th century it was mirrors (by Europeans), and in the 21st century it is single railway lines (by Asians).
Why are the most naturally endowed people on earth the poorest in the 21st century? These questions and more must be deeply reflected on.
Because we exist in a thinking peoples’ world, we must now be thinking individually and collectively. Why? Two quick points: The world and its people have no time and have proven that they have no sympathy for those who constantly appear and act stupidly. If in doubt, ask the Japanese, Chinese, Saudis and Indians. The few thinking Nigerians are aware that our future would be very bleak without us being led by our few thinking men and women.
What should be done
It is suggested that on the 29th May, 2024 every Nigerian should spend at least a total of two hours reflecting on the meaning of our collective existence -Day of national reflection.
The mind should focus on the following questions: Is Nigeria living up to its obligations to me as a citizen? If not, can it still extract obedience from me? Looking in the mirror, and as a Nigerian, ask: what is my human value?
Why do I/we acquiesce in career criminals leading us? In which way have I/we enabled their open stealing of our commonwealth? How can we make elections meaningful and avoid criminals imposing themselves as our elected representatives? Why do I/we call election riggers, our elected representatives/officers? How can I get my family, friends and neighbours to realise that if we stop honouring the dishonourable characters in our midst, they would be ashamed of stealing votes in the future elections?
After the reflection what else?
First, let me state that the disabling thought of the powerlessness of an individual to change a system is universal. You are not alone, if you are thinking what can you as an individual be able to achieve. Paradoxically, the power to change Nigeria lies within every single Nigerian regardless of how weak we think we are as individuals. Those latent individual forces within us are what are actually required to change Nigeria, because they become unshakeable if collectively expressed.
So, speak with your friends, neighbours, colleagues and community members, not in complaining and bemoaning your luck in beer parlours or pepper soup joints, but about what you can do collectively, at least locally to get the government officials to do the right things.
The ultimate decision of when and how we can set ourselves free from the oppressive reign of the numerically weak, but determined internal oppressors is for us to make, and not for the Americans or anyone else.
• Ogbonda, an ordinary citizen writes from the UK.
