• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Democracy and a few good men

Democracy and a few good men

The world owes Abraham Lincoln the undeniable remark that “Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people.” Believe me, this theory sums up the best aspiration of the least bad basis for political and governmental authority ever known to mankind. Despite its imperfections, democracy has ushered in freedom of expression while other achievements have equally been recorded globally.

Indeed, the attraction of a democracy over any other form of government is the ability of the people to decide their future. And for the same people to come together in collective action during election to right age-old wrongs perpetrated by the political class. With the recent controversies surrounding the just concluded presidential elections in the USA, we can say without any fear of contradiction that democracy is work in progress. And that either black or white, human beings are same everywhere.

President Trump had used all powers at his disposal to overturn the presidential election results but he did not succeed. I agree with an American scholar who says that no matter how flawed and frail the US democracy may be, it is still the world’s standard, and the future of the global fight between self-determination and autocracy largely rests on its success, or failure. The scholar further argued, “What has happened in our imperfect, always-correcting nation over the past two months or thereabout is truly exceptional. And may be – just may be – the country’s second civil rights movement will be at its best chance to reset its image and influence round the world.”

There are theories out there in the public domain that if the anti-democratic plotting that took place at the Capitol Hill occurred in any developing nation, the U.S would have condemned the act. I say, probably. Or, probably not. It all depends on the U.S strategic national interest in the international environment at the time of occurrence. These theorists also, say that US State Department would have issued a statement calling for the restoration of democratic principles and good governance. This may be true, I reasoned. And that the president and members of his cabinet would have made disapproving statements in a press conference and the legislators would have called for sanctions. True. Well, that cannot happen in this instance because the political turmoil is on the US soil.

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America’s claim to be a moral compass and advocate for democracy, human rights and freedom of speech globally was undermined. What a pity!

I kept vigil watching the CNN. Honestly, the mob action exhibited by some of President Trump’s supporters who held members of the US Congress siege, made me to ask if the abominable show displayed on 6 Dec, 2020, was the real face of democracy? Oh no! it was a show of shame. Live in America I saw Third World habits being displayed by “domestic terrorists” in Washington DC.

It was a raging President Trump who refused to accept that his rule has ended and thus, allegedly incited mass protests to disrupt the certification of his election loss that was the problem. A few radicalized bands of lawmakers loyal to President Donald Trump’s ideology also tried to deny voters’ verdict. President Trump leaned on his party faithful to find enough votes to let him win. Propaganda was at its peak with few media organs disgorging misinformation to support deceptions orchestrated by the 45th President of the U.S through social media.

It was fake news galore. All these hassles were designed by President Trump and his cronies to retain power at all costs. Methinks the motivation for this misdemeanour was obsession for power. Foreign media organizations ran the news that President Trump was advised by Michael Flynn, his former National Security Adviser to impose martial law to overturn the voice of the people. It was unbelievable. May be Flynn thought that he was in Africa where anything can happen. What would Abraham Lincoln and other founding fathers of the U.S say were they to be alive?

There were few good men in action during Trump’s fight to retain his presidential power. One of the few good men is the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Mark Milley who subtly reminded Trump during a speech in November 2020 that the military will only defend the constitution of the USA, not any individual even if it means paying the ultimate price. “We took an oath to the Constitution; we did not take an oath to a dictator” Gen Milley was quoted by media organizations. The General was quoted as saying that “confederacy is an act of treason.” I love the U.S military for their unwavering loyalty to the constitution of their country.

But in his desperation, Trump went to the U.S Supreme Court to overturn some results. He lost woefully. The Supreme Court denied Trump’s effort to block election results in four key states that sealed and delivered his fate. But for strong institutions and the values of the American people, Trump would have caused a monumental disaster to democracy. Members of the U.S Congress reorganized and came out strong after they were forced to evacuate both the House and Senate chambers. They affirmed President-elect Joe Biden’s victory after pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol. Joe Biden would be sworn in on 20 January 2021 as the 46th President of the USA.

One of the world’s oldest democracies went through a stress test. America’s claim to be a moral compass and advocate for democracy, human rights and freedom of speech globally was undermined. What a pity! It was strange to many observers outside America. Thank goodness, America’s democracy did not fail. It was because of a few good men and women in the executive, legislature and judiciary of the Trump’s government. Some of these good men and women have resigned after the attack on democracy at the Capitol.

In a few democracies, politicians most times engage themselves using kung fu or karate as convenient in parliament to settle political scores. If for instance, an incumbent president does not want to leave office after election, he simply connives with his tribesmen to alter the constitution for elongation of term. While political opponents would be arrested and detained. It is pure and simple.

There are lessons to be learnt by African countries whose democracies are fragile. First, Africans must build strong institutions, not strong men. The electorate must not be docile when it comes to politics. Second, whenever there is political turmoil, African governments are not to use extra-constitutional means to resolve any crisis. The rule of law characterized by due process must be adhered to, as this is a necessity for democracy to thrive.

In the final analysis, it is beneficial to remember the acerbic comments made by Winston Churchill on the other side of democracy: “The argument against democracy, he said, “is a five-minute discussion with an average voter.” A country must have a few good men and women in elected or appointed offices for democracy to work. Eminent scholars have theorized that there is a linkage between good governance and the survival of democracy. Democracy is only respectable when it can be made to work effectively and more importantly, fairly. Albeit, the real face of democracy is ugly. Thank you.