Skip to main content

The Electorates As Victims Of Political Manipulation

July 11, 2010
I was a keen observer of political events since the unceremonious and unjustified annulment of June 12 1993.  Nigeria obtained independence from the British colonial master’s in October 1960. The 1993 election contested by the late business mogul Moshood Kashimawo Abiola was adjudged to be the best since the country journey to political relevance and there were international condemnation and widespread protests all over the country particularly in the South-West of Nigeria. At the time of the cancellation, I was just completing my final examinations in the University and preparing myself to go into the world of the unknown as a young graduate.
It was an event in my life that I could not forget due to my personal involvement in the struggle of enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.

I could still recall vividly my indignation at the annulment and my support for the struggles for the enthronement of Democracy in Nigeria. I remember my article on the ‘Legitimacy of Civil Disobedience published by tribune in 1994 when the civil organisations and other pro- democracy groups enjoined the people to stay at home to protest the cancellation of the results won by Late Abiola.  I was not a strong supporter of the candidature of MKO at the time but rather supported the dream of transmission from a military debacle and enslavement to a civilian rule. To a discerning mind at the time, the late MKO / Tofa the two presidential flag-bearers    of the disbanded party SDP and NRC were not the best candidates the electorates could present at the time but it is only in Nigeria that whosoever emerged as the party-flag-bearer automatically becomes the kingpin and may eventually wins the election.  What mattered  most was the desire at the time to dislodged ourselves from the shackles of long military rule that have held us  for so long and to taste a bitter experience of running our own affairs as a nation under a civilian regime . It was widely reported by Nigerian newspaper at a point that the late MKO was instrumental to the coup d’etat that upstaged the former President Shagari due to his inability to clinch the Chairmanship position of the party at the time which was held by late Chief Meredith Adisa Akinloye whom I had conversation with in 1994 and lately in 1998 before his demise sometimes ago.

The gist of the current piece of information is why we as a citizen of this country continue to be under the impression that we are running a civilian regime and being represented by our so called elected representatives.  The electorates have suffered so much mental and psychological torture in the hands of our political leaders to the extent that we do not appreciate what goes behind the scenes /moves of our so-called political class who either claimed to represent our interest but who in turn represent interest of their own.  I was saddened by the events that led to the intervention of military in 1966 but more saddened to learn the events that led to the untimely intervention of the military guys in 1966 still rear its ugly heads in our body politics today. We have been inundated with reports of the behind the scenes political  manovering of our leaders asking for the President  Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan to run for the Presidency come 2011 and other so called candidates to run for the Presidency in 2011.  Whilst I am not against the candidacy of any candidate , I am questioning the moral justification of the supposed candidate canvassing for our votes when in fact they do not make any meaningful impact in our lives but rather canvass for our votes and they in-turn assumes power for their personal aggrandisement     and for selfish and mundane reasons  . It is not surprising to learn that the hawks that clamoured for the annulment of the June 12 1993 won by late Abiola have been playing with destiny of the 150 million people and would resist any attempt by the so called political class to manipulate the entire electoral system again so that we do witness a repeat of 1999 2003 and 2007 because we should dictate who the cap fits rather playing a second fiddle in the game.

Whilst I appreciate the fact that the President came into power through an unusual means, I am not against Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Presidency but rather concern with the hawks around gearing him up for the contest in 2011.  Since the current debate about the Jonathan Presidency, the President has virtually abandon the dream of fixing the electricity, he has abandon the implementation of the electoral reforms and has not spoken about his intention to run. According to the constitution of this country anybody could aspire to any elective post but such should be pursue with high sense of modesty and sincerity.  I am beginning to face the reality on grounds that after-all the only victims in this political manipulation are all Nigerians who are embracing the attitude of siddon look and expecting a miracle to fall from their recycling political leaders.  At the beginning of Jonathan Presidency, I was one of the few who genuinely believe that the government of Jonathan is a government to watch due to his past records and pedigree and due to his positive promises to the extent all Nigerians were expectant that after-all somebody is willing and keen to deliver the electoral promises of the ruling party who wanted to rule for 100 years.  In the United kingdom the Labour party were in government for close to 13 years and they recently lost to the hung parliament of Conservatives /Liberal democrats.  The Labour party lost the election because the people of the country wanted a change of governance and not because the labour did not perform. The Labour did extremely well within their 13 years of ruling the United Kingdom, which was why it was extremely difficult for the Conservatives and the Liberal democrats to penetrate core labour constituency such as Southwark Constituency and other labour constituencies.

The issue about governance is about delivery and performance of electoral promises to their constituents, which is the order in most civilised countries.  The concept of governance is the process of making decisions and ensuring that such decisions are implemented. The late Senator Abraham Adesanya opined  ‘ what we are seeking for this country is good governance, that the common man in this country should have equal rights to the benefits of his fatherland. We are also seeking a democratic government, justice and fairplay. If these are just , proper and desirable goals pleasing God , then God is the majority and those seeking our lives will not succeed.’’ But in Nigeria, the reverse is the case whereby ascendance to elective offices is determined by your clout, political affiliation and  how much money you are able to pay your godfather to be nominated.  Prior to the death of Late President Yar’adua in May 2010, the country was almost ground to a halt through the indecision of the former executives council and the national assembly to follow the dictates of reason. We witnessed various political permutations and bickering and if not for the wisdom of some of the National Assembly members to transfer power to the President, the state was actually moving to anarchy.   

The present political climate calls for caution and sober reflection as we moved towards the realisation of the 2011 elections. I am beginning to wonder if actually the electorates are relevant in the present scheme of things as being championed by the ruling party. In any democratic setting, opinion of the people matters a lot and any government that worth its salt would readily accede to the yearnings of the people.  I admire the steps so far taken by the President such as the appointment of Prof. Attahiru Jega as the nominee for the INEC top job (though with reservations) and I believe that a person of integrity, honest and credible person, should man the INEC top job. The question of the delivery of electoral promises hinges of having a very credible structure and making the voice of the people to count through credible delivery of election promises.    The various constitutions we have had in the past lend credence to the establishment of a genuine and viable democracy.


I am one of the strong advocates of the removal of the preamble of the 1999 constitution from our constitution, as it appears it has no relevance in the political climate of our country. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the fact that the aspirations and wishes of the entire masses on who should be governed have eroded us and we cannot continue to be what we are if the elected representatives careless about what we feel about a particular issue or matter that affects the generality of Nigerians as a whole.  The latest gist in town is about the Jonathan and IBB Presidency at the expense of fixing our roads, ensuring reforms in the education sector, ensuring reforms in the power sector, restricting the whole electoral according to the Uwais Reports. When the President came into power he promised to fast track urgent reforms in the power sector and ensures infrastructural development s and electoral reforms. To all and intent and purposes  the executives could have made the necessary impact within the few months left in the life of this regime if they are serious about it but   because if we lift the veil and see  what goes on behind the scene,   then we would appreciate that after-all we are ‘Victims of Political Manipulations’’

I am not against any candidate contesting electives posts but rather mad at the way and manner politicians use elective offices to settles political scores and divert their attention from political promises.  When the present government came to power, we were told that the President enjoins all the ministers to get cracking and deliver in their various constituency   urgent reforms. Furthermore, the National Assembly  members are entitle to allowances meant for their constituencies but alas , the electorates are yet to feel the impact of such huge sums voted for the constituencies  projects . We are in the fifth   month of this regime and the latest debate in town is how the present occupier of Aso -Rock   could contest election in 2011 and  the 10 billion voted for the celebration of  50 years. I would have been happier if the  policies of the government are geared towards welfare state  and not  use the sum of  10 billion to celebrate  when the majority of Nigerians are living in abject poverty and squalor and the youth are jobless and unemployment everywhere .To a discerning mind,  if the President is willing and ready to contest the election in 2011, his actions and  delivery of basic amenities of life to an average Nigerian would have been the determinant factor. If the President could within the few months left for the lifespan of the regime could do the followings

1.    Implement the Uwais Report on electoral Reforms and Appoint a Credible Person to assume the leadership of INEC(done with huge reservation on the credibility of the INEC Commissioners)
2.    Sanitise the Public sector through Transparency and Accountability and Shun Wasteful expenditure of State Resources
3.     Privatised  the Power Sectors and Appoint Credible person to deliver Power Reforms
4.    Fix the Roads and Ensure that all Projects are completed within the Time Stipulated in the Contractual Terms  .e.g Lagos /Ibadan expressway. Benin Ore Road/ Okija/Afikpo Road
5.    Assure on the Independence of the Judiciary
6.     Ensure that the election would count in 2011 through Implementation of Uwais Report and conduct credible elections that would be acceptable to the generality of Nigerians.
7.     Legal backing to the Fight against Corruption and ensure full Investigation and eventual prosecution of elements involved in the Halliburton, and Gulf Oil  and  House Rep. Corruption allegation  are investigated and the culprits  face the music.
8.    Implement the reforms in the Niger Delta and do a turn around in the lives of the Niger delta people who have suffered so much neglect  and deprivation
9.    Ensure accountability in all spheres of government life
10.    Put  a smile on the faces of average Nigerian through provision of basic amenities
 I am sure Nigerians would always remember him as the saviour that came, saw and conquered.
God Save my Country Nigeria.
Olutoyin Adeyinka- Eweje UK
[email protected]


googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });