Right-thinking watchers of political events with discerning minds are not surprised that elective office holders in Nigeria seem to believe very strongly, that democracy is all about elections, elections and elections rather than good governance and visionary leadership as it obtains in civilised climes where democracy is practised faithfully in such a way that the citizens derive maximum benefits in form of democracy dividends.
Unfortunately, this has not been so in Nigeria where, in spite of the fact that this year makes it exactly 20 years since the return of unbroken democratic dispensation, millions of the citizens, due to rising wave of poverty, hunger, anger, unemployment, criminality and dashed hopes, have not benefitted from dividends of democracy. Whereas when the Abdusalami Abubakar-led military administration handed over the reins of power to the civilian administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on May 25, 1999, millions of pauperised and hapless Nigerians, had thought it was unique opportunity for the new set of civilian leaders to avert the avoidable mistakes of their predecessors and embark on meaningful policies and programmes that could improve the living conditions of the citizenry and also place the country on the path of sustainable development.
Instead, after 20 years of democracy which incidentally, has become a veritable source of corrupt enrichment for several members of the political class since politics has virtually turned out to be the most lucrative business in Nigeria, a sizeable member of disillusioned Nigerians are now doubting if Nigeria’s democracy as it has been practised since May 29, 1999, was ever intended to benefit ordinary citizens now increasingly experiencing untold hardships. Some are now seriously advocating that if under the current democratic dispensation, political leaders, due to their selfish ambitions, have made cost of governance to be very high to the extent that most of the states are indebted to their workers and pensioners, it is time to drop presidential system and return to parliamentary system of government.
Every four years since 1999, those directing national affairs, especially the Executive and the Legislature, usually focus on elections at the detriment of governance. This worrisome issue has been generating heated controversies among Nigerians since the February 16, 2019 and March 2, 2019 elections are fast approaching. It has been observed continuously for 20 years that as soon as those elected into offices every four years resume work, they start planning for future elections rather than attend to primary duties for which they have been elected into office.
The Olusegun Obasanjo administration was barely three years in office when the protracted feud over his second term bid erupted between him and his then deputy, Atiku Abubakar who is currently presidential candidate of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Due to the friction between the duo, good governance became major casualty throughout the troubled second term of their administration. The rest is now history. When late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was flown abroad for treatment, some governors from his party and region, started warming up to take over from him in spite of the fact that he was not only still alive, he had also spent barely two years out of his first four-year tenure. As for former President Goodluck Jonathan, he had not spent much time in office as Acting President when he started canvassing constitutional review so that the president and governors could spend one-term of six or seven years in office as against the current two terms of four years each. As expected, the generality of Nigerians roundly opposed his suggestion which they said was aimed at achieving his personal ambition.
However, this notwithstanding, Nigerian politicians can never change even in spite of their much-touted change-mantra. Our political leaders have delight in doing things the same way and still expect to get different results. Unfortunately, this is the bane of Nigeria’s development.
As it was since 1999, hardly had the Muhammadu Buhari administration spent three years in office that nauseating pronouncements from powerful political gladiators over 2019 started heating up the already charged polity. Sometime in 2018, shortly after defecting from All Progressives Congress (APC) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, shocked many when he alleged that National Leader of APC, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was nursing 2023 presidential ambition. Expectedly, this allegation must have roughened many political feathers among Ndigbo who barring any unforeseen development, pray the long-time dream of Igbo president would finally be realised in 2023. However, how could this lofty aim be attained if Tinubu’s ambition is true? Will this not mean South-West where Tinubu comes from, may cause another incalculable setback for Ndigbo? Could there be some iota of truth in Saraki‘s allegation, especially judging by recent stunning declaration by Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola to the effect that come 2019, South-West will produce the president?
The discordant tunes over 2023, though ill-timed even when 2019 elections are yet to hold, are waxing stronger every day and heating up the polity. Why are Nigerian politicians behaving this way by being unmindful of the need to handle issues step by step? Why talking of 2023 when we were still in 2018 as if government and governance are all about elections only? Now, there is confusion everywhere concerning 2023. Naturally, with Peter Obi as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, if Atiku wins 2019 presidential election, Ndigbo, hopefully, could realise their dream of Igbo president in 2023 and would therefore, vote for PDP. If Atiku keeps his promise to spend only one term of four years, there is possibility Obi could step into his shoes, all things being equal. However, more confusing is the fact that within the governing APC, there are deafening discordant tunes over 2023. While President Buhari has repeatedly canvassed support of Ndigbo for his 2019 bid and promised that Igbo president is realisable in 2023, Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, during his recent visit to Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi in Oyo, reportedly pointedly indicated that South-West would produce president in 2023. Even Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, had assured Ndigbo have chance to produce president in 2023 if they vote for Buhari in 2019. There is no doubt that all these inconsistent tunes over 2023 could dampen the spirits of Ndigbo and create another stumbling block between them and realization of their age-long Igbo president dream.
The question that is likely to be agitating the troubled minds of Ndigbo is: Will it be voting for Buhari or Atiku in 2019, there is greater chance of finally attaining feat of Igbo president in 2023? However, Ndigbo are their own enemies. Igbo leaders should place Ndigbo interests above selfish interests and desist from divisive tendencies continuously endangering realization of Igbo president. Ndigbo should be open and sincere and establish mutual co-existence with other regional groups whose unflinching support they need to achieve their objective.
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