Alas! Nigeria has made a successful transition! History was made as it is the first time in Nigeria for an incumbent ruling party to be ousted via the democratic process. Kudos to the spirit of audacity, resilience patriotism, and commitment demonstrated by courageous Nigerians who voted for a change and made sure their votes counted. I also give credit and recognition to the roles played by the Nigeria’s electoral body, some civil society groups, the media, government and non-government organizations, and the international community at large in instilling and extolling democratic virtues in the electorates. I certainly believe all efforts yielded fruits as electorates came to the realization that they have been bereaved of good governance all along. However, change demands a lot more than we have given in. Change makers must pay attention to other salient demands that are mandatory for true change.
Let’s go through a timeline and spate of questionable incidents as reminders; perhaps these guided the experiences that guided these electorates to a resolution for change through the ballot. Till date, these Nigerians feel estranged from their nation’s governance, especially where deceptions, unpardonable scandals, embezzlement, poor security of the general well-being as well as a crippling judiciary system have been the order of the day. With the approach of the last concluded elections, it was all visible that the ruling party was making attempts to remain in power by any means possible. If antecedents were anything to go by, the ruling party had always depended on the instrumentality of rigging, sabotage, looting and exertion of forceful power with little or no regards for the rule of law. The change makers were determined to make a good impression as they outsmarted schemes, distractions and pointless propaganda from the ruling party.
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The next stage in our democratic experience is true change. Not just lip syncing to a familiar rhythm, but the type that reflects attitudinal transformation worthy to sustain ‘the people’s government’. By this I mean that we as a people should not relent in our efforts to speak against the ills troubling the nation until that positive measurable democratic dividends craved for are delivered. Yes, we have that much power to oust an incapable ruling government, but it is never a good decision to wait until we are completely raided before we act. We should be able to drive a change completely home. But how can this be achievable in our country? Are our people informed? How available is this intellectual wherewithal our present democracy demands?
There is great need for the electorates to seek and pursue participatory governance. Our democratic gains must not be measured by the sharing of 'bounties' but also in problem solving through creative and sustainable solutions. In simplicity, we expect that anyone who wants to comment on the economy should know about the economy as much as the leader, upon whom responsibilities to run the economy has been entrusted, does. Democratic participation that is knowledge based will radically promote Nigeria to a higher step in our journey to maturity in our democratic experience. It is therefore crucial for these citizens to understand that quality participation in governance thrives on knowledge.
It is also important also for the electorates to understand the purpose of entrusting the power to govern on anyone. For so many years in our democratic experience, we have had politicians and public office holders who are very skilled in appealing to the emotion, apathy or sympathy of the people in the place of accountability and performance. The expectations of the people must remain high, constantly demanding, with an open mind, the dividends of democracy and elevation of the rule of law in all respects. This is the purpose for power. I expect that from now, if a leader describes his post-tenure scrutiny and questioning as ‘persecution’, citizens should boldly replace persecution with ‘accountability’.
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Conclusively, it’s about time people started educating themselves appropriately. We must understand that in order to be independent and critical thinkers that are worthy of people’s attention, we must seek to study and to know. The tenets that made democracy work in places where it has worked can be studied and put up for consideration as we debate and participate in governance. We must not forget that good leadership thrives on the freedom of the mind to make deliberate choices towards constructing the desired future. Nigerians have to grow out of being puppets of desperate politicians who lure them to think the way they want them to think.
Proper and supportive knowledge based criticisms of the current dispensation is imperative to accountability and problem solving approach in governance. This certainly would amount to a major stride in democratic consolidation in Nigeria in the present time and in the future to come.
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