Somber Tuesday! Plans to inaugurate a new President proceed apace, while transition processes are in motion, as are lawsuits challenging the election results. The abysmally low percentage of Nigerian women, youths and people with disabilities elected into office call into question, the depth and maturation of Nigerian democracy. As for INEC, it is questionable whether it is aware of its responsibilities to the Nigerian electorate as an election management body. It should have guaranteed the integrity of the elections and delivered free, fair, and credible elections.
Contestations that produce and escalate ethnic tensions and hate speech are part of the modus operandi, further complicating the nation-building agenda. Democracy is an apparition on the horizon. The currency scarcity is being managed via putting more old notes into circulation, although said notes are in extreme state of decrepitude that when people access crisp new currency, it’s like a miracle. One also wonders what it means to have a cashless economy when there are still network problems that prevent instant completion of bank transactions. The economy is still moribund, and the masses are still waiting for the breakthroughs that would transform their lives in a positive manner.
Nigerian youths have significant consequences on their lives from the country’s political, economic, and social problems. Many want to japa–leaving the country by any means necessary for what they believe are better opportunities abroad. They are frustrated by the stranglehold that octogenarians have over the political and economic systems. Even the social system is controlled by the elders. There’s no interest in mentoring and grooming the younger generation for leadership. This calls to question, the essence of democracy. How does this situation affect the daily realities of the youths and other marginalized populations?
Patriarchy, oligarchy, and gerontocracy are deeply entrenched in Nigeria The number of women in leadership is not only small, it is decreasing. People with disability do not have representation to any appreciable degree. Poor Nigerians are in the same boat. Insecurity, abductions and kidnappings are prevalent. Nigerian political institutions, infrastructure, and social services are grossly inadequate. High unemployment and underemployment are part of the status quo. There is a dearth of decent jobs. The social contract between the people and leaders seems to be nonexistent.
Democracy and economic development, personal and human security should be national priorities. The wellbeing and welfare of citizens and the masses’ ability to meet their basic needs must also be meaningfully addressed. All Nigerians deserve at least the hope for a positive transformation instead of the perpetuation of misery.
EndSARS youth protesters hoping to exercise their franchise during the 2023 elections have become disillusioned and frustrated because the political process produced sub-optimal results. #EndSARS demonstrations demanded good governance, an end to police brutality, extortion, impunity, economic inequality, marginalization, targeting of youths and other minorities, and cessation of political violence. They were violently suppressed.
We should learn “never again” lessons from the 2020 Lekki massacre. #LekkiTollGate & other locations were arena of state-sponsored brutal violence, regardless of peaceful protest being a democratic right. What kind of nation do we want? Should democracy and sustainable development not be attainable and available to all citizens? Should kleptocracy not be confined to the dustbin of history? Should we not ensure that future generations have access to the resources that they need to not only survive but thrive? Should we not reject the extreme levels of inequality and deprivation that have been the portion of the majority in our country? All of us are responsible for giving our best to create the Nigeria we want.
#NigerianWomenArise #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeriaNOW
#EndSars
#EndSWAT
#EndImpunity.
Howard Zinn was right when he said:
“Civil disobedience, that’s not our problem. Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves, and all the while, the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.”
I repeat like a broken record:
Let the kleptocrats give back our stolen wealth so that we can fix our infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and also offer worthwhile social protection to our people. Let the masses enjoy the full benefits of citizenship in Nigeria. Let the leaders and political class repent and build peace with justice.
This is no time for politics as usual. The people elected should be those trusted to bring justice, equity and human security to the entire country, not expedient, unethical and egocentric individuals determined to dominate for self aggrandizement or sectional gain. We don’t need oligarchs’ continued domination. We also need a government that puts the interests of majority of citizens first. Dare I hope that this will happen anytime soon?
Prof. Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome is a professor of political science at Brooklyn College in New York.
