Nigeria’s democracy surprises the world!
Who would have thought that March 2015 would mark the month when Nigerians – individuals, politicians and state institutions – would historically orchestrate the first democratic transition of political power through a credible and non-violent electoral process?
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In the beginning, even cautious optimists had clearly either feared the worst or prayed to avert the worst. Who could blame them? Of course, the history of presidential elections in Nigeria has not been particularly helpful in this regard. Talk of Babangida annulling results of Presidential elections when opposition frontrunner M. K. O. Abiola had been on the verge of being declared winner. Talk of the last election being marred by violence and deaths. And talk of this particular election having to be postponed for a month to allow a high profile and successful military confrontation and suppression of the Boko Haram terrorist insurgency. The ground was truly fertile for anxiety.
On the day of the election, a powerful prayer on a friend’s Facebook page, found its way to mine:
“Father in the name of Jesus, we lift up Nigeria before you. We declare that there shall be nothing missing and nothing broken, total shalom. Your word says "My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places", let this word be established. We lift up a standard against any forces of darkness that war against the nation of Nigeria and declare that the Prince of Peace will reign supreme in that nation. The international media will not get their usual bad news of Africa and the glory will go to your name. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen”
And so it went. I in turn passed it on to a Nigerian colleague who described it as timely. Glued to his radio, he also had additional words to describe the unfolding situation in Nigeria. On the two leading candidates –Jonathan and Buhari—he said, “neither of the two candidates is a great choice but anyone but Jonathan.” He accused Jonathan of indecisive leadership and of mundane campaigning. He cited as an example Jonathan’s defence of his anti-corruption record when he allegedly “accused his enemies of calling 'ordinary stealing of public funds', corruption!”
Of course, the sharp contrast between Jonathan’s alleged quote and Ghanaian writer, Elizabeth Ohene’s intolerance for what she described as Ghana’s penchant for glamorising, minimising and perhaps tolerating clear stealing of public funds in the opulent and apparently more acceptable cloak of corruption, did not fail to strike me. It was even funny!
On corruption therefore, it would appear that Ghana and Nigeria have divergent approaches, at least, judging from the two stalwarts! From the Ohene perspective, it appeared that in Ghana, it was better to be corrupt than to be a thief, while if Jonathan’s quote is to be believed, it would appear that in Jonathan’s Nigeria, corruption was certainly far worse than merely stealing public funds! O the beauty of language!
My Nigerian colleague also expressed concerns about vote rigging, concluding sarcastically that “vote rigging is not a new thing in Nigerian politics....it's just a normal chess move!” He detested the wide spread destructive effect of Boko Haram – “people who would sell their very souls for money”. He could not understand why “with the many things Jonathan’s 'enemies' do to 'sabotage' his government,” the President had been too quiet! Infact Jonathan was too quiet to lead a nation like Nigeria, he concluded.
The international media will not get their usual bad news of Africa … the prayer went. Three days after the election, when all had praised it for being largely credible and peaceful, the 31st March 2015 edition of the Wall Street Journal led with a front-page caption: “Nigerian Protestors Claim Vote-Rigging” accompanied by a prominent picture of protestors in Rivers State “calling for a halt to Nigeria’s presidential elections…etc.” O, how they would have lapped it all up! Despite most election observers striking a positive note about the conduct of the election, foreign secretaries from the US and UK without stating the basis, concluded “that there are disturbing indications that the collation process… may be subject to deliberate political interference.”
It is clear that in many ways, this was more a vote against Jonathan than a vote for Buhari. Congratulating another Nigerian living in the US, he expressed great concern “about the people behind Buhari”, including some who he claimed had previously been engaged in palpable corruption and stealing from the State. Others also remember Buhari’s military regime for “jailing Fela and other journalists.”
Some Nigerians will however also miss Jonathan as another colleague’s email showed; “Great to have our first democratic transfer but I am nervous. Goodluck Jonathan with all his flaws, was a real champion for health and (with the current Minister of Finance) invested more in health than any other President...let's hope Buhari won't halt all the great work that is being done.” If only all this last minute decisiveness resulting in the Military recapturing Boko Haram territory had not assumed the tone of too little too late, if only the 200 kidnapped girls had been found and returned home, if only Jonathan hadn’t allegedly called corruption mere stealing of public funds! But of course, perhaps, I over simplify the matter!
Congratulations Nigeria... you have made us so proud...not so much because of who you chose, but because of the maturity of the process. May President Buhari fulfil the promise of democracy - peace, prosperity, development, jobs, health, water, energy, housing, security... May Nigeria continue to pleasantly surprise the world!
Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey
Sodzi_tettey@hotmail.com
www.sodzisodzi.com