BEFORE YOU VOTE FOR THAT CANDIDATE, CONSIDER THESE! PART 1

INTRODUCTION

Democracy is a concept that a lot of people know about but are yet to grasp the intricacies of what it really connotes. Nigeria has had an uninterrupted 4^th Republic which is worth celebrating, but has it led to the development of a democratic culture? Do we really uphold the principles of democracy? Why have we found it difficult to vote for people based on their antecedents and not on sentiments? Why has Religious affiliation been a basis for political consideration? Why has ethnicity been a catalyst for leadership nomination? The Nigerian state has had to grapple with a set of politicians cum leaders who seek to “capture” the votes of the electorates not thinking of making their lives better. The absurd use of #500 and #1000 notes as incentives for the voters’ consent is still a huge demonstration of dearth of democratic culture. The sharing of candidate-branded small bags of rice to sway the minds of voters in favour of those candidates is a democratic aberration. The use of soldiers for the purpose of security during election in the 21^st century is unimaginable and inconceivable.

The features which makes a country to be termed as democratic include the following; popular sovereignty, popular equality, popular consultation, majority rule and rule of law. Can Nigerians really say these aforementioned features are present in her democracy? Let us briefly discuss these features so that one will appreciate them and seek to inculcate them in our system.

Political sovereignty

This means that basic governmental decision-making power is vested in all the people and not in any particular person or ruling class. The will of the people in a modern state is expressed through their representative chosen at periodic elections. “Godfatherism” which is prevalent in the Nigerian democratic space is not acceptable within the context of this feature.

Political equality

Each member of the community should be given equal opportunity to participate in the nation’s political decision-making processes. The principle means ‘one man, one vote.

Popular consultation

This involves the requirement that public officials must be responsive and accountable to the people. Public policies must reflect popular wishes. It means government response to popular will. It also means the accountability of representatives to the people while in office.

Majority rule

The principle of majority rule requires that no government decision be made against the desires of popular majorities. This means that the power of popular majorities to take any government action is only subject to those limitations imposed and removable, by such majorities.

Rule of law

The supremacy of the law is an essential ingredient of a democratic system. The Rule of law connotes equality before the law, absence of arbitrary coercion by the government, liberty of the individual. Any state where the leadership is not subject to the law cannot be said to be a practicing democracy. Refusal of the government officials to obey court judgments, flagrant disobedience of the constitution and a biased judicial system are clogs in the wheel of the democratic system.

With the general elections around the corner, we yearn for change in our country and we should make a deliberate effort towards changing what the country looks like for the benefit of our generations yet unborn. Join me as I proceed with the basic things we need to consider as we make our decision at the polling booth.

Yomi Akinsola