Unlike what obtains in advanced democracies where civilisation and sanity are never in short supplies, especially as reflected in conduct of their politicians and other elective office holders, it is very uncommon for losers in Africa to voluntarily or willingly concede defeat in elections into juicy political offices at various tiers of government. Even if after politicians in Africa might have completed their tenures as clearly stated in the constitution, they will still devise unconventional or unconstitutional means to illegally elongate their stay in office.
This was why in spite of the fact that he established the enviable record of being his country’s first-ever democratically elected indigenous President of Zimbabwe, fast-aging Robert Mugabe, after spending over 30 years in office without appreciable impact on governance, had to be forced out of office by the military in 2017. He is a typical example of corrupt, visionless and wicked African leaders who, despite the fact that they have outlived their usefulness and are no more popular among their citizens, still want to perpetuate themselves in office. When elections are conducted every four or five years on completion of their tenures as enshrined in the constitution, they brazenly with impunity, manipulate the political and electoral processes to favour themselves in order to undermine democracy. This is why when they know clearly that they no longer enjoy support of the people due to bad leadership and poor governance resulting in failure to deliver on their campaign promises; they devise several means to subvert the wishes of voters by rigging elections in their favour. However, when they lose elections, they refuse to accept defeat and resort to acts capable of destabilising their respective countries instead of seeking redress in court as it obtains in sane societies or nations.
Whereas in civilised and orderly climes where elections, rather than being do-or-die affairs as it is in Nigeria, are unique opportunities for elective office holders to selflessly, render to their countries and fellow citizens, selfless services with the fear of God. In Nigeria, especially since the return of democracy on May 29, 1999, seeking election into various political offices has assumed worrisome dimension. It is like going to war to kill or maim innocent competitors in order to clinch tickets of political parties ahead of general elections. This has become so largely due to the fact that of all the various aspects of national life, politics has virtually become the most lucrative business in Nigeria during the past 19 years. As a result of this, unscrupulous politicians and their powerful political godfathers have continuously exploited the warped electoral system, as well as the profoundly flawed political system to achieve their skewed selfish political ambitions at the expense of ensuring deepening of practice of democracy in Nigeria.
It is not only unfortunate but also heart-rending that unlike what obtains in some African countries that gained political independence at almost the same time Nigeria – the Giant of Africa, did on October 1, 1960, it is regrettable that democracy is still on slow wheels in the country in spite of the fact that its return will clock 20 years on May 29, 2019. The slow progress so far recorded is largely due to the selfishness, inefficiency and lack of commitment on the part of members of the political class who have always been concerned with promoting their selfish interests and ambitions rather than national interest so that democracy can grow in Nigeria.
Reasons for this absurd situation are not far-fetched. When flawed political and electoral processes throw up incompetent and corrupt leaders at various tiers of government across the country, nothing appreciable can be achieved. You cannot give what you do not have. When wrong people are elected into offices, the foundation has been heavily corrupted and compromised while disaster becomes inevitable. When political appointments are made based on federal character, blood relationship or friendship rather than undiluted merit, the country cannot move forward. Unfortunately, some of these cardinal factors have since 1999 for instance, been seriously militating against the socio-political and economic development of this potentially-great but profoundly failing country.
I was shocked and saddened sometime last week when President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly applauded his immediate predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for accepting defeat in 2015. What a misplaced priority! How many times since 2015, will Buhari commend Jonathan for conceding defeat? What relevance is this now that another presidential election is holding on February 16, 2019? Why should Jonathan be praised for accepting defeat? What is so significant about this? Is a loser in election not naturally or ordinarily expected to concede defeat with magnanimity and go ahead to congratulate the winner who in turn, should also accept victory with humility? The president was reported to have expressed this view while hosting members of the Kannywood entertainment industry to dinner at Presidential Villa in Abuja. He said: “I will continue to hold former President Jonathan in high esteem as a result of that singular act. Jonathan was in power as Deputy Governor, Governor of Bayelsa State, Vice–President and President, all for about 10 years and he voluntarily accepted defeat and surrendered power to me”.
Nigerians with discerning minds are tired of hearing the president applaud Jonathan for conceding defeat, especially judging by the fact that having said so repeatedly in the past, everything now sounds like a broken music record to be discarded. In civilised climes, acceptance of defeat by a contestant is a non-issue as it is taken for granted in a democracy. If Jonathan had chosen not to concede defeat, he had option to reject the result and seek redress in court or allow the country to be set on fire that could also consume him. If he had voluntarily concede defeat even before final result was released by INEC, it clearly means he saw the handwriting on the wall that he would lose eventually. If Buhari had applauded him as he did in 2015 for conceding defeat, he needed not to do so endlessly as if he has nothing else to do in spite of his busy schedule. In almost four years after the defeat of Jonathan, should Buhari continue to sing this boring song concerning Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat? When will African leaders take their responsibilities to their citizens seriously by shunning trivialities and prioritising their programmes to meet yearnings and aspirations of their citizens?
By the way, if per adventure, President Buhari loses in 2019, will he concede defeat? What is of topmost interest to Nigerians is for President Buhari’s administration to justify reason for its electoral victory in 2015 by meaningfully taking Nigeria and Nigerians to the next level in terms of overall development rather than unnecessarily repeatedly commending Jonathan for conceding defeat.
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