*EMERGENCE OF ELECTORAL AND GOVERNANCE REVOLUTION IN NIGERIA*

*BY*

*PROFESSOR B. CHIMA ONUOHA*

The word or term “revolution” is often used in history, military or political science. It takes place when people, a nation or society get tired of or are frustrated over a particular system or order or more specifically, when people are tired of or feel that a system is no longer serving their collective socio-economic cum political interests or welfare. In a nutshell, revolution is a gradual or radical change in the established order especially, the established government, social institutions, leadership and business practices. It is important to state *ab initio,* that our interest in this article is electoral and governance revolution, which has just begun in Nigeria.

The present political dispensation (adulterated democracy) started in 1999 till date, spanning almost 24 years. During this period, politicians that form the core state and national leaders/political economists have completely failed the citizenry. Most are not intellectually and emotionally qualified or prepared for the onerous task of nation building; are self-centered, deceitful, manipulative, tribalistic, and myopic; hence non-strategic. What have been the outcomes of this dysfunctional background and perspective? This is largely in the form of poor governance characterized by poverty, insecurity, infrastructure decay, weak educational system, high costs of living, food crisis, high unemployment rate, lack of accountability, pervasive corruption, mono-product economy, financial and technological dependency, weak and perverted institutions, selective employment, lack of merit in appointments or more glaringly, primordial considerations in elections and appointments, taking the citizens for granted, among a myriad of other unwholesome and anti-people activities. And globally, the country has no relevance and respect.

Many adult citizens are docile or helpless about the _*status quo,*_ few elites and cliques milking the system are happy and want it to continue _*ad infinitum.*_ The youths whose future is uncertain or endangered are not happy about the warped or flawed socio-economic milieu. They tried to do something to register their displeasure and bleak future. They first did that via the EndSARS, nation-wide protests in 2020. The state wielded the big stick. There were needless casualties. There was Commission of Enquiry. The report of Commission affirmed that there was indeed a massacre and made recommendations as a result. As with many recommendations of government’s Commissions of Enquiry in Nigeria, this also ended up not being implemented. What do you expect when a government dons the garb of a prosecutor, judge and advocate in its own case(s)? ( _nemos judex in causa sua_). Again, in Nigeria, human lives are not valued by government. Some religious fanatics even place more value on animals than human beings.

As if this is not bad enough, the youths were kept at home for more than 8 months via the 2022 ASUU strike. It was also strategic to pauperise the elite majority of whom are university lecturers. As at today, their 8 months salaries are still outstanding.

The youths, unlike many adults, decided to take their destiny into their hands. They knew that they have to fight for their freedom with tact and wisdom ( _akonuche_) since they do not have the war chest or the coercive powers of the state. Igbos call it _“ogu uche.”_ They retreated and decided to follow the limited social, legal and political windows open and available to them. The youths obviously chose the Mahatma Karamchand Gandhi’s (popularly called “great soul”) approach to change the unfavourable and choking system. Gandhi is widely recognized as one of the 20th Century greatest political and spiritual leaders in the world. Often seen and honoured as the father of the Indian nation. A lawyer, he led India to freedom from British colonial rule in 1947. He was the sole apostle and initiator of the principle of _Satyagraha_ – “resistance to tyranny through mass non-violent civil disobedience.” Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence inspired notable civil rights leaders all over the world.

The youths effectively used the social media to sensitize and mobilize themselves. A good number of adults keyed into the grievance-vengeance or payback loop. That auspicious opportunity came in the 2023 Elections. During the Presidential/National Assembly Elections of February 25, 2023, records were broken and new ones set. In fact, history was made in many quarters. It is as if the youths and Nigerians read and embraced the two articles I released during the week of the election, for which I am very happy. They were: _“Are Nigerians Ready for Democracy”?_ (February 22, 2023), and _“As You Go for 2023 Elections”_ (February 23, 2023). Some top level politicians are yet to recover from the shock and melancholy of the outcomes of the Elections. I will give few general examples and suggestions.

> For the first time in recent past, electioneering campaigns have become issue-based and intellectually stimulating; no more sending questions in advance and aides writing down answers for the bosses. Unprepared top politicians avoided public debates. No more comedy and fake humility or meekness, featuring, with equal publicity, of eating _akara,_ groundnuts, corn or banana with poor market women, or children; driving or riding _Keke Na Pep;_ elements of frolicking, frivolities, dancing prowess, throwing mud at opponents (or outright character assassination), making banal promises, not based on research or data, reduced and will continue to reduce or entirely eliminated in the future; state and national campaign councils of parties knew that they have serious assignments of marketing their candidates to the electorates; and it is increasingly becoming a reality that Nigerians are now more alive to what they want from their leaders; that money, cheap gifts, or handouts (all instant gratifications) may not be everything at last.

> Some top politicians, particularly, Governors have all along given the impression that they have conquered territories which are impenetrable. Some of them see themselves as demi-gods. In fact, some of them play god. They became loquacious, boastful and arrogant about this invincibility. The States and all the people in them, are their personal estate. Unfortunately for them, some of the most visible ones lost their territories (wards, zones, and states) to rival or opposing political parties, on February 25, 2023.

> A presidential candidate, a national chairman of a ruling party, a presidential running mate, Director-Generals of State and National Campaign Councils, notable spokespersons of parties, some serving ministers, prominent politicians, etc. could not deliver their wards, local governments or states to their respective parties. They lost them to opposing parties.

> Some state governors after mismanaging their states’ resources for eight years, arranged mouth-watering severance, gratuity and pension packages (for life) for themselves, yet often wish to retire to the Senate permanently to continue to milk the people’s national patrimony. Suffering from physical and mental fatigue, is it surprising that they usually sleep (on duty) during Senate’s plenary sessions? Worst still, some of them are suffering from peasant mentality. The past elections taught them some bitter lessons. Some of them convincingly lost their bid to represent (most appropriately, misrepresent their zones/people) in the Senate. Their rejection by their people is a pay-back for abuse of office and poor governance.

> The Nigerian voters did not forget that some members of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) did not serve their collective interests well. Constituency projects were not executed, or executed poorly, or diverted for personal gains. Some of them were glaringly rejected on February 25, 2023. This serves as a notice to incoming ones that it will not be business (exemplified in self-centeredness) as usual.

> People clearly showed their rating of all the presidential candidates by the strength of their voting. The level of acceptability ought to reflect in winning the former and present Federal Capital and strategic states across the six geo-political zones of the country. For example, winning Lagos or Abuja (ideally both – securing 25% in Abuja is even a legal requirement), the KKK states (Kano, Kaduna and Katsina; for North West, at least one of them, both ideally two of them), Bauchi or Yobe (for North East), Rivers or Delta (for South South), Plateau or Nasarawa (North Central), and Anambra or Imo (for South East). Not doing so is a clear indication of weak acceptability, if not an outright rejection by the masses. However manipulated the already announced results were, this aberration is obvious.

> The same should be applicable for those that want to be governors of states. They should be able to pass the acceptability test by winning certain strategic local government areas across the three senatorial zones of their respective states. Not doing so will also be an aberration and sign of rejection by the masses.

It is important to emphasise that these milestones were attained despite all obstacles namely:

1. “Deliberate inefficiency” on the part of INEC – its staff, electoral materials arriving late, delayed accreditation, faulty BVAS, refusal to release BVAS passwords to Presiding Officers (POs), closing early, insufficient security apparatus and electoral materials, voters suppression in many areas, etc. Some of these hitches de-enfranchised and frustrated many electorates.

2. Electoral malpractices which emanated from comprised INEC staff at all levels. The activities of political thugs were nauseating, including ballot box snatching. This enabled wrong or fake election results to be entered for opposing candidates/parties or in favour of the paymasters, as the case may be.

3. Intimidations and harassments from political thugs, some security agents and even from certain government quarters on the electorates. These scared many people away and aided rigging.

In view of the avalanche of negative commentaries and editorials from leading international news media (print and electronic) on the outcome of the February 25 elections, the Federal Government of Nigeria, INEC and Nigerians ought to be thoroughly embarrassed. Nigerians in diaspora are ashamed of this country and her leaders. That people’s votes can commonly be tampered with without dire consequences.

Regrettably, INEC has refused to take full responsibility for all the lapses of the February 25th Elections. What we hear is that the aggrieved parties should go to court. A Presidential Spokesperson said, “go to court so that lawyers can “eat” your money.” These things are said brazenly and with impunity. What happens to the compromised INEC staff? Would there be punishment which will serve as deterrence? How about the security agents who performed far below professional standards? Have we officially embraced Hobbesian doctrine in Nigeria? Will the judiciary live up to expectations of Nigerians? Can this arm of government use this 2023 Election to redeem its self-imposed ridicule? This should start right from the Tribunals, yet to be empanelled, all the way to the Supreme Court. How about the Bar? Where will be its allegiance? To the masses or the rich politicians? Too many questions, one may say… I am in love with a recent poem by Professor Niyi Osundare with the title, _“My Lord, Tell Me Where To Keep Your Bride.”_ I am only thinking out loud.

Despite all the irregularities, Nigerians spoke and spoke loudly too. Unfortunately, many Nigerians are bitter that their votes did not count; were of the view that they were robbed by the compromised electoral Commission and its _ad-hoc_ staff. They want total removal of bad politicians who have mortgaged their welfare for selfish reasons, for many years. Some said that they will not come out and vote on March 11, 2023. To me, that will be defeatist. Instead of chickening out, Nigerians must consolidate on their electoral gains of February 25, 2023. This is the time to start holding our leaders accountable. We must deepen this emerging electoral and political revolution. Nigerians should do everything necessary to avoid voters’ apathy – which is lack of interest or indifference towards elections. This often leads to low voters’ turnout. Don’t you think that the political oppressors will like this? This will be dangerous. Please, do not contemplate that.

It is ironic that some top politicians and thugs who were threatening fire and brimstone just last week, are currently moving about begging people to vote for them or their candidates. Power indeed belongs to the people. Do not be deceived by the antics and rhetorics of these “later-day saints.” Leopards hardly change their spots. Please, use your power maximally and to the chagrin of the perennial oppressors. The major factor responsible for having rubber stamp houses of assembly across the nation is that governors are the sole selectors of those that will go there. That explains why members of houses of assembly are either errand boys or domestic staff of governors, hence, no checks and balances in all the states of the federation. They call this subservience to governors “loyalty.” But I call it _“banananess or enslavement.”_ The Governors are emperors. Electorates should vote for those who will serve their collective interest and welfare and not rubber stamps anointed by sitting governors. They would not add value to good governance or high standard of living.

I was watching CNN news yesterday (March 6, 2023), I saw the mega airport project under construction in Kigali, Rwanda, for just Two billion Dollars. Seeing the scope of the project, I almost shed tears for this country. If it were Nigeria, such gigantic project would have been over Ten Billion Dollars, and would have taken years of award and rewards of the same project without any significant progress, with accompanying constant variations. Can we remember how much that has been spent on power project in the last twenty years? And less than 6000 megawatts of electricity is being generated? How about the East West Road and the Second Niger Bridge?

There is nowhere in the world, including war zones, where higher institutions are closed down for three weeks because of elections. But in Nigeria, all bizarre things are possible; because of lack of strategic thinking, poor public policies and docile citizenry. The youths, in addition to staying at home for 8 months in 2022, and needless 3 weeks now, should come out en masse and vote out all bad politicians and their lackeys and cronies on March 11, 2023. Shun all forms of familiocracy. They should avoid instant gratification, and think of their future, which will be bright if good leaders are elected and subsequently appointed. The earlier they start taking their destiny into their own hands, the better for them. The other oppressed and poor Nigerians should also do same. In other words, electorates should ensure they vote qualified, credible and competent candidates, across all parties.

I read an article yesterday written by one Adedamola Adetayo (released on March 5, 2023), with the title, _“The Kickstart of the Zionist Movement in Lagos.”_ This article centered on ethnic profiling, written by someone who is bitter with himself, family and background, the major reason why the write-up is very hateful, vengeful and an open threat to people of the mentioned ethnic group. The major objective clearly is to discourage or scare away members of a particular ethnic group from voting on Saturday March 11, 2023. Security agents should take judicial notice of this brazen open threat. The targeted ethnic group should also take adequate and equal measures to counter this fellow who is suffering from entitlement mentality, hence he is completely frustrated and in melancholy. Adetayo, wake up and work harder!

In conclusion, all efforts must be geared towards making Nigeria an egalitarian, prosperous, and well administered nation. A sovereign entity where equity, fairness, justice, meritocracy and equal opportunity are open to all citizens. If all these things happen, or guaranteed, naturally, Nigeria will be on the right path to global visibility, relevance and respect.

This is my message. As usual, take the message and leave the messenger alone.

*Professor Onuoha wrote from the University of Port Harcourt, March 7, 2023.*