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There are three notable things, which a Democratized society implies;
– Good government
– Loving people and
– A free Nation.
Democracy is a multiplex socio-political hypothesis saddled with certain values and it’s concrete realisation in a geo-political space is astoundingly onerous, and requires unfeigned desire and continuous strive to reduce the human and institutional encumbrances that weaken it’s functions.
In John Locke’s theory of politics, a good government is rooted from the powers, vouchsafed in trust on the representatives, sponteneously chosen by the citizens of the country. This means a truly Democratic settings is derived from an acquiescence which by implications, becomes the right to replace a grasped non performing leader with another.
From the avers above, it’s crystal clear that criticism or HATE SPEECH (as tagged) is an inbred component which Democratizes a country. Owing to it’s potency upon which to, without reservation decides who should lead, how and when he should lead.
But the apposite question is: Is Nigeria’s Political system truly Democratic?
– with politicians seeing quests for POWER as an alternative to none.
– with the selfish and egoistic believe that the means is always Justified by the ends in politics.
– with corruption clapperclawing all institution of governance.
– with the laws of the Land and judicial interpretations favoring only the rich and powerful. And,
– with the destitutes vulnerable to anti-democratic modules.
OF COURSE NO!!!
As a matter of obligation, what we have in Nigeria thisdays are RULERS de ‘Desperado’ who are contemptuous of common plight.
Recalled that, a bill was recently sponsored in the 8th chamber of the National assembly by senator Aliu Sabi Abdullahi, APC Niger and spokesperson to the Nigeria senate. Soliciting ‘death by hanging’ as penalty for hate speech offenders upon conviction. The bill which was red during senate plenary on wednesday 28 of february 2018, also seek to establish an Independent National Commission for hate speech, adducing ethnic hatred as it’s cost implication.
In all honesty, can anything spring ethnic hatred more, than the security upheavals such as kidnapping, armed robbery and killings which has, for the upteenth time attracted global discordant?
Can anything spring ethnic hatred more, than the nepotistic and marginalised government under president Muhammadu Buhari?
Can anything stem ethnic hatred more, than the economic policy which had rendered millions of Nigerians jobless and second class citizens in their own country?
Can anything stem ethnic hatred more, than president Muhammadu Buhari’s desperate hankering for power with Northern agenda as his priorities?
In my view, hate speech offenders are not the public howling copiously over a dented economic/political climate of the country, or those tagged as ‘wailers’ (anti-APC), but the palpably shirked National crux such as security, and welfare of the people which broach a redoubtable threats on subsequent economic and political fortune. For instance, Boko Haram’s incessant attacks leading to abduction of Chibok and Daptchi school girls. And more dastardly, the unwearying attacks by fulani Herdsmen which has hatched into stream of blood flowing on our streets.
His nondiscriminatory code-CORRUPTION which earned him (Buhari) a victor-ludorum in Africa is in mare’s-nest. Several cases of looting against his cronies are either covered, shielded or swept under the carpet. In fact, questions pondering on my mind are;
Why has the president not been able to hit the ground running?
Why did he, against what was penned in his campaign mantra, escalate immunity clause?
How do one rationalise the recent killings in Benue, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and Rivers state with the ongoing peace tour?
In less than three years, Nigeria’s debt profile fast- rised to $73 billion (N22 trillion) with a borrowing orgies of over N10 trillion between 2015-2017.
And despite the spurious claim that the federal government assisted states with over N1.19trillions in two years, striking number of states still owe workers backlog of salaries.
Facts which questions government’s sensitivity to the groaning Nigerians under the weight of hunger, chaos, abject poverty, fear and uncertainty are critical. Yet, attempts are miserably and miscreantly made daily, to clothe incoherent and gross misconducts raging in the atmosphere of governance.
Still, I wonder what kind of king will choose to merry while his subjects wallows endlessly in an uncertainty. Perhaps, with the whereabout of their daughters unknown.
I can confidently say, that there was nothing like HATE SPEECH from 1999 to 2015. As a matter of fact, Jonathan’s government came under serious attack towards the tale end of 2014. But he was absorbance enough, and never made any traitorous move or budget a penny to mornitor critics. Even when the dire needs arose of him (GEJ) to challenge the 2015 election outcomes, ambitions was traded for National peace and Unity.This I know of a fact that Buhari and Buharist wouldn’t do.
The ongoing clamp down on critics also posits the president’s spokesman and a respected senior pastor of Four Square Gospel Church, Mr Femi Adesina as been sarcastic. In a controversial piece he wrote and published July 22, 2017 titled ” President Muhammadu Buhari and the descendants of Shimei.” Where he attributed Buhari to the famous King David in the Bible and his critics, as the ‘descendants of Shimei’ who should have been beheaded by Abishais.
Quote from the piece;
“President Buhari has tolerated people who have called him all sorts of names in the past two years. If he didn’t move against them directly, he could have allowed many Abishais to move against them, “and take off their heads.” But not our President, a reformed democrat, a pious man, who has resolved to leave the people suffused by hatred unto God. And will they get their just desserts one day? As night follows the day, they will. If not from man, they will get it from God. Their forefather, Shimei did. He reaped what he sowed.”
Let me concur to certain part of the piece by saying, critics are getting their just desserts already. But contrary to Adesina’s prognostications, our percieved reformed Democrat and pious man of a president is repelling his critics.
Infact, Buhari has suddenly forgotten that the media actually brought him to power in 2015. We know of how many lives that were lost to president Buhari’s several bids for presidency between 2003-2015. And it would have been the worst of it’s kind, had Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan not conceded defeat in 2015 general election.
I think the recent turn out events that led to the resignation of Donald Trump’s long term aide, Gary Cohn, should serve as moral lesson to our die-hard aides and special advisers who see every action of their principals in the affirmative. Cohn’s resignation is coming on the heel of the decision of president Donald Trump to impose stiff tarrif on aluminum and steel import.
Buhari’s anti Democratic activities is very much capable of handing the Nation to the military via coup. He overrides judicial ruling whenever he feel suits his ego. He drags his feet over decisions that would have benefited millions of Nigerian. Am still waiting to see his unque selling point comes 2019.Perhaps, he may yield to failure and then ask the desperate Nigerians to give him another chance. Our repugnancy to critics as a Democratized society is borne out of failures to get our priorities right. Therefore, criticism should be viewed as an avenue to get things right by any selfless leader.
In unjust society, silence is a crime. Besides, Democracy they say, is all about collectivism, and not individualism. Hence, in the true spirit of Democracy, I presume my stance. That this country of ours must be made great again, regardless of circumstance.
– Dr. Paul John writes from Lagos
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