Opinion
A Critique of 2023 Presidential Candidates in Nigeria
By Isaiah Osifo
Government is either Democratic or Authoritarian. In a democratic government, performance is anchored on the pursuit of Democracy and the Rule of Law. In other words, elected and appointed representatives in a Democratic government cannot claim performance if there is no evidence of deliberate policy for the promotion of Democracy and obedience to the Rule of Law.
In an authoritarian government, performance is measured by the benevolence of the Head of Government. In other words, sovereignty of the nation is personalized by the dictator and any provisions for the citizens welfare is an excellent performance of the government.
Performance catalyst or it’s index in government can be further explained with examples of government in democratic and authoritarian countries.
In the UK, government claims to good performance will be unacceptable to the citizens if there are clear evidence of the violation of the principles of Democracy and the Rule of Law.
In other words, the provision of good roads, water supply, public sanitation, health care, security, etc, is inferior to the promotion of democracy and the Rule of Law in democratic countries.
In China, infrastructural development and government services for the basic needs of the citizens is superior to the promotion of Democracy and the Rule of Law. The gratitude to the benevolence dictator is the input of the citizens, not the demand of human right or principles for the promotion of Democracy.
The three (3) basic indices for the classification of a Democracy are -1-Free and Fair Periodic Elections in line with the Constitution of the Country for the citizens to elect their representatives in all tiers- Local Government, State and Federal and all Arms of government- Legislative and Executive.-2-Legislative Arm or a Parliament that is Independent of the Executive and the Judicial Arms of government and can exercise it’s Constitutional responsibility without undue interference from the other Arms of government.- (3).Independence of the Judiciary with it’s financial Autonomy and can function unrestrained in the promotion of Democracy, Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law.
Arising from the above, it will be interesting to know whether the claims to performance in the previous political offices of the 2023 Presidential candidates is based on the Democratic or the Authoritarian type of performance.
I have watched and listened to the campaign managers and supporters of different Presidential candidates shouting about the performance of their principal as former governor of a State ,or as a former Vice President of Nigeria. I expect these campaign managers and supporters to explain the type of performance at the commencement of electioneering campaigns in September,2022.
There is no perfection in any Democracy, but there must be an evidence that the variables of Democratic imperfections must be surbordinated to the three,( 3) basic principles of Democracy.
1.If you were a Vice President of Nigeria and you did not support the defence of the Nigeria Constitution, Autonomy of the Local Government ,the Legislative and the Judicial Arms of Government, your claim to performance is fake.
Interestingly, there are documented evidence and verification of Atiku’s defence of the Constitution of Nigeria, (refer to Law report ), it’s advocacy on Re- structuring, (promotion of Democracy), commitment to Democratic and Autonomous Local Governments in Nigeria, (foundation of Democracy), Legislative and Judicial independence.(core principle of Democracy).
At the commencement of the campaigns there will be itemization and comparison if there is any one in the 2023 Presidential contest in Nigeria that can match the performance of Atiku Abubakar in the Democratic type of performance even though he was not the Chief Executive of any tier of government in Nigeria.
If you were a governor of any State in Nigeria and you did not allow elections into the Local Government in your State, (violation of section 7 of the Nigeria Constituion), you did not allow the Autonomy of the Local Government in your State, (violation of section 162 of Nigeria Constitution), you did not allow the Independence and the financial Autonomy of the Legislative and Judicial Arms of Government in your State (another violation of the Constitution of Nigeria), your claims to performance is fake and you are an adversary of Democracy, Rule of Law and genuine aspirations of Nigerians for sustainable development. Authoritarian type of performance, if any is a threat to Democracy and such characters should be avoided.
At the commencement of electioneering campaigns there will be an itemization and exposure of the Presidential candidates that are guilty of these Democratic violations and the necessary need for Nigerians to abandon their rhetoric and reject them at the polls.
Democracy cannot grow on its own. It is the conduct of the political leaders that will provide the ingredients for the growth of Democracy. It is Democratic governance, free and fair elections and appointment that will develop resilient Public Institutions that will ensure a credible INEC for the conduct of free and fair elections, fight corruption, ensure due process in public service, promote responsible and vibrant.
Parliament at the Local, State and Federal governments and an Independent Judiciary that will be responsible to the Constitution and Laws and not to persons.
Nigerians have been cheated and deceived for a long time. Facts and reason, not emotions and propaganda should determine the choice of the next President of Nigeria in 2023.
Dr. Isaiah Osifo is a University Teacher and the National Co-ordinator, United Patriots for Atiku.
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