Wilful disobedience of law and order didn’t start today. It started many centuries ago. Since the time of the first Adam in the Garden of Eden, man has been disobeying lawful orders. So, why do we expect any mortal to obey the constitution of a country? Rather than rule by the law, which according to Plato, is the supreme instrument for the moral salvation of the society, those in the government disregard the due process of law.
The desire of many incumbent political office holders especially presidents and state governors not to relinquish power peacefully and constitutionally, and failing which they try to impose their anointed in their place is a threat to democracy.
When it comes to politics of succession, particularly in Africa, many ugly and shameful events do occur. In Nigeria, for example, we have seen massive rigging of election results, tenure elongation, imposition of councillors,local government chairmen, governors and presidents on the people. Anything contrary to laid down democratic process is caused by the politics of succession. One wonders why presidents and state governors are reluctant to leave office honourably. It’s not because of national interest. It’s due to easy access to national resources. So, everything must be done by political office holders at state and federal levels to manipulate the entire political succession process, even contrary to the position of their political parties as we witness in the polity today. This is so because political parties have become tools of manipulation in the hands of state governors and presidents.
Politics have turned to warfare across the country. The desperation to either occupy or retain political offices have always led to deadly encounters at political party rallies as we witnessed recently in Lagos and other states. It was a show of shame at the Lagos APC gubernatorial campaign rally as hoodlums attacked party members and journalists when the Lagos State Governor, AkinwumiAmbode, was delivering a speech. It shows the kind of politics we play in the country, and that the safetyof anyone cannot be guaranteed even in an area where the governor is standing with all his security operatives.
Political succession shouldn’t be a do or die affair. As we approach the 2019 general elections, the world is watching political events as they unfold in Nigeria.The appointment of Amina BalaZakari,Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) Commissioner, as the head of the 2019 Presidential Election Collation Centre is controversial. The situation is such thatwhenever Amina Zakari is mentioned, her name is a red flag at INEC.Mention her name, and the blood pressure of politicians in the opposition will rise. But the President insists that she is the only one qualified to do the job.
The sudden removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, over false asset declarationis a fatal and devastating blow on democracy in Nigeria.The removal of the CJN from office has been politicised with South-South governors saying that Onnoghen should not appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Niger Delta militants have threatened to blow up oil installations in the Niger Delta. The All Progressives Party (APC) have decreed that “CJN Onnoghen must face trial.” Anyway, a battery of lawyers including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) are ready to defend the CJN. With profound respect, the removal of the CJN from office without due process, is a wilful disobedience and flagrant disregard of the rule of law. Why trivialize the rule of law by not taking the outcome of the investigation on the CJN through the National Judicial Council?
A scripture in the Bookof Ecclesiastes says that “to everything there is a time.”Asset declaration by any government official is a necessity by law. There is a time to remove the CJN.Those in the government may argue that this is the best time to remove him. Removingthe CJN from office now is not appropriate.His removal from office can be done later when elections are over. Unless there are other mysterious reasons why the removal of the CJN has to be immediate. At a time when election is just less than a month, Nigeria should have a CJN in office. That is why Nigerians, especially those in the opposition are saying that the forthcoming elections will be massively rigged by the APC. Well, those who predicted that the 2019general elections will witness mass rigging may not be far from the truth considering developments in the INEC and sudden removal of the CJN.The CJN’s removal has given room for various theories to thrive. Prophets have also prophesied that presidential elections will be inconclusive.
Democracy has suffered terribly in the hands of our political leaders. Almost everyone in the government is a “law” with barely any legal responsibility for their acts or omissions. If democracy was to thrive in Nigeria, it has to be operated on peaceful political succession, with strict adherence to the rule of law, not the rule of men.
Political succession is a very sensitive matter in Nigeria as it is crucial for renewal of voters’ confidence. And it should therefore be handled with great care and caution. If any leader wants to remain office as permitted by the constitution, it should be done with all sense of decency. There is no need to manipulate the entire political process in the name of fighting corruption.
Nigerians want democracy- a government of the people elected by the people.They reject “choice less democracy” in its entirety.Democracy is meant to be representative government. Nigerians are tired of having those who didn’t win election parading themselves as representatives of the people in government. The race for any political office is not to the swift in the year 2019. This year’s election will be conclusive but it would be for those who have the character and competence to occupy elected and appointed offices. Nigeria, shine and rise.
MA Johnson
