Again, back to voter education 

Between October 2022 when the first part of this article was published soon after members of the Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria (GPAAN ) embarked on voter education of some citizens, beginning with Lagos State, ahead of the 2023 general election and April 2026, a lot of stormy waters have passed under Nigeria’s wobbling political bridge. The main feature has been defined by the coming of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu unto the political pedestal and with some three years in the saddle, it is up to Nigerians to objectively and critically assess the impact of his economic policies on the Human Development Index (HDI) of the average citizen. That is devoid of ethnic, religious and political sentiments and differences.

As it was in Ancient Greece (about 500 BC), Nigerians must rise to the full realisation that they have had enough of the concept of Monarchy (when one person rules), and Aristocracy (when a few wealthy people rule) and embrace the real principles, precepts and policies of Democracy (when the people rule). With regard to Greece, though “their cities were small enough to enable all the citizens to meet together to make decisions, and they did not need to elect officials as we do.” Essentially, programmes of government were carried out by the officials made up of the people who took their turns in their execution. That is according to H. A. Vincent, the author of the highly informative book, ‘The Story of the Ancient World’.

Notably, the leadership scenario back then was a far cry from the present day Nigeria where the political- cum- economic equation is overtly skewed in favour of the highest bidders and the audacious few favoured citizens, driven more by the Machiavellian mantra of the end always justifying the means than selfless service to the people. Thus, from one administration to another the ordinary Nigerian is left to stew in preventable poverty, questionable insecurity, joblessness, low educational and healthcare delivery status, infrastructural decay with most of the political actors grossly failing to live to their primary purpose. And that is to guarantee security and provide for the welfare of the citizens, as expressly enshrined in Section 14, Sub-section 2(b) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

Incidentally, that constitution which should be the ground norm for governance never emanated from the wishes, dreams, desires and dictates of the people- who should hold the levers of governance in a democracy. Reflective of the anomalous leadership structure it came from the wishes of a favoured few Nigerians.

Concentrating enormous political powers at the federal centre, is anti-people’s development. If not, how do we explain an aberrant situation that has the people asking for political restructuring, to bring power closer to the people but the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has since 2015 blatantly refused to agree to the wishes of Nigerians. Worse still, restructuring was an issue the party made as one of its campaign promises back in 2014/15 but does not see the wisdom in its fulfilment. So, what is democracy when the critical element of Trust is openly violated? Unfortunately, millions of voters do not understand what democracy truly entails.

If they were, voters would not be collecting peanuts of small packs of rice, beans, indomie and an insulting N10,000 to N20,000, or even less money to sell their souls and children’s future to their very oppressors during campaign periods. It is indeed, the right of every voter to demand from every contestant what he/she intends to actualise for the community, or country, as the situation may be. That is once he/she mounts the political office and to have a binding vow to that effect.

Beyond all that, the current humongous pay package of the politicians, as approved by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is antithetical not only to the economic wellbeing of the people in a democracy but also to the enthronement of good governance. Series of warnings have been issued by both the World Bank and The Economist Magazine of London with regards to Nigerian lawmakers and Ministers being ranked as the highest paid politicians in the world. Paradoxically, that is happening in a country OXFAM Report has consistently ranked as home to the poorest people in the whole world since 2018. But no group of political helmsmen has deemed it wise or exhibited the moral remorse to call for a change of narrative. Yet, we cannot continue to tread on this twisted and thorny path; to the extent of running the machinery of government by, humongous debts, overtaxing the poor and other oddities. One cannot believe this is still playing itself out in the 21st century Nigeria.

According to the Report of the International Bank Mission to Nigeria way back in 1953, as reflected in the book, ‘Storms on the Niger’ by Mokwugo Okoye: “ Production methods are still primitive, the great majority of the population is illiterate and standards of nutrition, housing and medical care are low. The people are anxious to live better and hence to produce more goods in a greater variety; they want to become better educated”. That was some 73 years ago! Are we much better as at this day? The answer is there for all to see.

The Human Development Index of the average Nigerian would have been at par with India, Malaysia and Singapore, countries that gained political independence at about the same period if power has been given to the people, instead of the crop of avaricious and restless locusts that have stripped our fertile forests into bare broom-like spectacles of international shame.

So, as we inch closer to the 2027 general elections the fundamental questions are therefore, pertinent.

Considering the parameters of the quality of life do we have more access to food items that are wholesome and nutritious? What about healthcare and education delivery? Do we have more jobs for the youths?  What verifiable impacts have the current government’s policies had on the presence of good access roads, potable water and is electric power supply stable and reliable for industrial production?

This is therefore, a clarion call to all enlightened Nigerians, including Human Rights activists, the mass media and even political parties to begin to engage in mass voter education. Power must return to the people. The time to act is now.

As John Lewis, the late civil rights activist rightly stated: “Your vote is precious. It is the most non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.”