One of the challenges that mankind has continued to face since creation is how to entrench a leadership system that could save the people from tyranny, corruption and dictatorship of the rulers. Mankind’s apathy in leadership systems is derived from his bitter experiences in the various epochs he passed through either in the feudalist, monarchical, authoritarian or all other forms of dictatorships which put him at the mercy of those in power.
His experiences in oppression, intimidation and harassment under successive epochs where he was considered immaterial and a subject to be used and dispensed with at will by the rulers, made him unrelenting in his search for a caring and enduring system that could recognise his personality, humanity and peculiarities by those in power who should be responsible and accountable to him.
After his tortuous and enduring searches for an ideal leadership system, therefore, man came to the era of bipolar world represented by capitalism and socialism, both of which believed either in the collective ownership of means of production or individual ownership of the productive means which could guarantee profiteering.
The proponents of the two economic systems were the USSR and USA both of which stood for socialism and capitalism respectively. And in protecting their areas of influence, the two superpowers embarked on what is historically known as the “The Cold War,” which ran throughout the world until the socialist system under USSR collapsed in 1989 with Mikhail Goberchev as the leader, upon his introduction of the capitalist economic system known as, “Perestroika and Glasnost,” introduced to reinforce openness in the hitherto command economy of the Soviet Union.
The collapse of socialism led to a new order world under a unipolar world dominated by the USA with democracy and capitalism as the only universal system which every civilised nation must embrace. As Professor Francis Fukuyama enthused in his celebrated book, “The End of History,” the defeat of socialism and triumph of capitalism effectively ended human history.
According to him, the congruence between democracy and capitalism enthroned a new world order where man no longer has need to further search for an alternative leadership system, bearing in mind that democracy has finally answered man’s questions and quest for an enduring political system.
By its nature, democracy as a rule of man by man and for man, summarised as, “Government of the people, for the people and by the people,” has people as its central focus in contrast with what obtained in the past when power was concentrated in few hands. It’s the need for the sustenance of the new system that people are always enjoined to remain vigilant to collectively protect it.
But conscious of the authoritarian nature of man and his tendency to be dictatorial in his quest for exclusive power, elements of checks and balances were introduced as guards by power philosophers. That’s why apart from the three branches of power: Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, which operate independent of the other, one can only be said to have legitimately acquired power and rule over others, if it is done through a democratic means and mandate of the people. Whereas, those elected are expected to be accountable and responsible to the electorate through a system of “Social Contract.”
Social Contract in a democracy connotes that whoever enjoys the mandate of the people does so in accordance with the due process and adherence to the terms of the contract, breach of which could lead to either recall or denial of second tenure in office. These have been the golden principles of Democracy, which Nigeria embraced in 1999.
I went to this extent to explain the concepts as part of a deliberate effort to contribute my own quota to the enlightenment on the ideas of our political system, democracy and why we should join hands to make our democratic experiment a success.
In the last 3 and half years under the current democratic dispensation, the good people of Ojoku and Enjema constituency in Ankpa 11, elected Hon Rabiu Momoh Alfa as our representative at the State House of Assembly to make laws and take care of our social and economic interests. And in line with democratic norms, he has to renew his tenure under the ongoing electoral process by testing his popularity among the people who would do a referendum on his leadership in the last 3 years and half years by voting according to their conscience in the coming State House of Assembly election.
While man’s social and economic needs, desires and interests would never be met at any particular historical period, no matter how much we try, the question we should sincerely ask ourselves is, has Hon Rabiu Momo Alfa, in the last 3 years of his representative role at the State House of Assembly been able to correctly articulate and aggregate our views within the period under review to reflect who we are as a people?
Even though it’s difficult to answer these questions without being accused of partisanship as some of us always try to remain neutral, at the same time, keeping quiet at this critical period when a major political decision about his leadership is about to be taken, would amount to denying our brothers and sisters at home the benefits of our education. That’s why I decided to personally make this intellectual contribution to the ongoing debate about the election that would take place next Saturday of which he is a participant.
As someone that has been keenly monitoring political developments at home and conscious of the welfare needs of our people, I can state without fear of contradiction, that not only has Hon Rabiu’s representation at the State House of Assembly in the last 3 years clearly reflected our aspirations as a people, he has also not abused the trust of youth leadership which majority of the people yearned for while electing him on the platform of APC 4 years ago. And I can justify my position.
Democratic leadership is not limited to only execution of development projects, even though it’s a desirable part, but includes ceremonial or symbolic representation which gives effects to the egoistic nature of man who desires the promotion of his peculiar identity.
So far, I have carefully followed Hon Rabiu’s Motions at the State House of Assembly, reviewed his contributions to Bills and particularly his relationship with members of his constituency over the last 3 years, and my sincere conclusion is that, he has represented us well and capable of consolidating on other areas, if given another chance through reelection and revalidation of his mandate.
Let me recall that as a keen observer of the political activities in our state, I started developing interest in Hon Rabiu’s representation when he refused to keep quiet in the face of suffering by workers who became victims of the endless screening exercise by the state government; his vocality during the strike by lecturers of tertiary institutions in the state and his commitment to paying for waec and Jamb fees of some indigent students from his constituency, coupled with his weekend social interactions with his people by which he regularly attends their naming ceremonies, funerals and graduation. All these to me, define his people-centred leadership spirit which is not only admirable but a further legitimisation of his representative role.
For the avoidance of doubt, while all the above might not have translated to physical projects and cash for everyone, they truly represent the ideals of a lawmaker who is conscious of the social, cultural and economic needs of his people, and these must be commended. This is because, it’s one area that many of our politicians fail in their representative assignments–You must constantly show that you belong to the people and relate well with them in a manner that show that you are one of them and your mandate emanated from them. That’s what many of our politicians failed to do and which he does admirably as we have seen in the various reports of his activities.
Hon Rabiu to me, has done all these satisfactorily in the last 3 and half years of his representation of us at the State House of Assembly and continues to demonstrate that position of power should not alienate one from his people who elected him.
As he represents himself for continuity through the next Saturday election, it’s my belief that the good people of Ojoku and Enjema would reciprocate his gestures by turning out en mass to give him massive votes that could convincingly return him to the Assembly to sustain the ideals of effective representation which he has started in his first tenure.
There is no doubt that doing so by our electorate, is what would tell the whole world about who we are as a people from that side of Ankpa where the people are known to be hardworking, committed, proud of themselves and socially aware and conscious of their peculiar identity.
– Alhaji Sani Idoko Abdullahi hails from Ajobe, Ojoku Ward I and contributed this piece from Abuja, FCT.
