The democratic journey in Nigeria: Learning from the American experience on november 26, 2013 at 11:02 am in viewpoint Two years ago, in April 2011, Nigerians began casting ballots in the first of what would be four days of voting for legislators, governors, and a president. Tensions were high. Voting that had been scheduled one week earlier was abruptly canceled just hours before polls were to open. It was not known for certain whether months of careful election preparations would result in a process Nigerians considered fair and credible or a rerun of the deeply flawed 2007 presidential elections. Skeptics were everywhere and many said good elections could not be held. Nigerians had a different idea. They waited in line for hours. They stuck around after the polls closed to ensure that every ballot was counted. They monitored polling places and compilation centers by the thousands, and they sent text messages reporting any irregularities they observed. The result was clear. Nigeria had conducted its most successful and credible elections since its return to multi-party democracy in 1999. Despite obvious imperfections, these elections have given the country a solid foundation for strengthening its democratic institutions in the years ahead. The April 2011 elections were clearly a giant step forward in Nigeria’s democratic journey, but more remains to be done to improve Nigeria’s electoral procedures and more importantly to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions and governance. We all need to see a strong, vibrant and growing Nigeria — because what happens in Nigeria affects us all – the United States, Africa and the global community. Nigeria is probably the most strategically important country in sub-Saharan Africa. At about 160 million people, Nigeria is home to over 20 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population. It is the largest oil producing state in Africa, it is the fifth largest supplier of crude oil to the United States, and the tenth largest global producer. It is home to the sixth largest Muslim population in the world, and it’s by far the largest country in the world with approximately equal numbers of Christians and Muslims. In the United Nations, Nigeria is the fifth largest peacekeeping contributing country in the world. It is a crucial continental power broker in dealing with African institutions and in resolving armed conflict. It is a vital player in the war on terror. Despite Nigeria’s progress, and our optimism about Nigeria’s future, serious challenges remain. Some of them are based on decades of ineffective governance and lack of accountability of elected officials, lack of integrity in the electoral process, continued pervasive corruption, security challenges, deeply entrenched poverty and escalating youth unemployment. In order to address these problems, free, fair and transparent elections need to be held and the institutions established to ensure transparency need to be reinforced. Office seekers need to respect the will of the people and concede defeat without violence and undue protracted protests. Of course, democracy and human rights are about much more than holding elections. As President Obama said in Ghana in 2009: “Africa doesn’t need strong men, it needs strong institutions.” This means independent courts, legislatures, and electoral commissions. It means a free press, rule of law, and local civil society organisations with the room to operate and speak freely without intimidation from government authorities. And it means respecting opposition parties’ ability to hold peaceful public protests and openly criticize those in power. It means voting for candidates based on their political agenda and what benefits they hope to bring to the people rather than what part of the country they come from. It is essential to understand that a democratic government does not necessarily lead to good governance, even though it provides the basis for it. Good governance is characterized by accountability, transparency, combating corruption, participatory governance, political equity, the rule of law, due process, as well as free and fair elections. An engaged electorate and active civil society and strong institutions trump strong men. The political and economic success of Africa depends a great deal on the effectiveness, sustainability, and reliability of its democratic institutions. That means a focus on people, process and progress, not personalities and personal gain. I wish I could stand before you today and cite the U.S. as a perfect model to to follow. Since no country is perfect and all democracies are emerging works in progress, what I would like to cite is what NOT to follow in the U.S. example. As you all know, we just went through a two-week government shutdown where civil servants were forced to sit at home while all but essential government services ground to a halt. How and why could this happen to one of the strongest democracies on earth? In my view, it all came down to a focus on politics over people. As you may recall, rival Republican lawmakers of the right-wing populist Tea Party movement championed the two-week paralysis last month, which set back vital government functions and nearly led to a US government default, in a bid to force President Obama to change his signature reform of expanding health care coverage. The shutdown delayed security aid to several countries and also held up work on everything from scientific research to trade negotiations. The government’s key tool for spotting and tracking the source of food- borne illnesses was shut down for days, while a dangerous outbreak of salmonella from raw chicken spread to 20 states. Secretary Kerry noted that “The shutdown didn’t just shutter the Statue of Liberty –- it temporarily closed the doors to refugees and students who were seeking visas to learn here and to contribute to our economy.” In a democracy where the voice of all sides must be heard, boxing the opponent into a corner with no room for compromise is a tempting vision for ideologues on both sides, but it is a warped image of a viable democracy. In a country so sharply divided as ours, there can be no final victories, only incremental wins leading to future battles. With all too blustery bravado and arrogance, however, there could be overwhelming defeat — for the nation. To the extent that leaders step away from that brink, there would be cause, if not for rejoicing, at least for relief. So what we need are strong leaders who will look to meet the overall common good for all the people, for the long-term. So, in Nigeria, it is my hope that legislators will find collaborative approaches to resolving common challenges. The current electoral reform efforts by the Nigerian law makers should be pursued in order to draft enforceable and effective electoral laws that could confront the menace of electoral malpractices including electoral violence. Politicians found guilty of electoral fraud and all those that benefited from it should be punished without fear or favor. They must be made to face stringent and long lasting legal penalties and sanctions. The practice of using public office for private gain should be discouraged. It is hoped that these measure will serve as deterrence against any form of political lawlessness and violence. In addition, to equip Nigerian for the 2015 general elections, the government should sustain a credible national election management body, improve public awareness and confidence in the electoral bodies, promote credible, transparent and sustainable electoral processes, improve the democratic quality of political engagement, and strengthen channels of civic engagement. For elected officials, those who abuse the public trust through fraud and corruption should be held accountable and required to make amends. By way of positive example, citizens in the U.S. shape their government and its policies by getting involved in their communities and fully participating in the American political process. Nigerians can learn from the core values of American democracy which include the rule of law, separation of power, representative government, fundamental human rights, and a system of checks and balances. Democratic institutions may not ensure stable, civilian government if other conditions are not present, however. First, a firm belief in the rights of the individual promotes the fair and equal treatment of citizens. Second, rule of law helps prevent leaders from abusing power without fear of punishment. Third, a sense of national identity helps encourage citizens to work together for the good of the nation. Other conditions advance democracy. The participation of a nation’s citizens in government is essential to democracy. Education and literacy give citizens the tools they need to make political decisions. Also, a stable economy with opportunities for advancement helps democracy. It does so by giving citizens a stake in the future of their nation. As earlier noted, Nigeria’s present democratic journey commenced in May 1999. Observers note that this nascent democratic process has been hampered by electoral fraud, post-election violence, and political godfatherism. Based on their enormous wealth and power, political godfathers determine electoral victories of their preferred candidates. They dictate ‘who gets what, when and how’ in the distribution of scarce resources in a country. They seize power to serve personal political interest and to enrich themselves. Therefore, the role of godfathers goes beyond the elections, and gets stronger over time. Competition amongst godfathers to control state powers has corrupted the electorate’s right to freely elect their preferred candidates, thereby rendering elections a mere formality. Moreover, it has been observed that in elective politics and governance, youths are either side-lined or excluded. When they are involved at all, they are mainly manipulated to promote the political ambitions of a selfish political class. It has been said that Youth are the main perpetrators and at the same time the victims of electoral violence. Youth form about 70% of the 167 million people in Nigeria. This stunning population could act as a catalyst and leader of positive change. Young people are at the heart of many of today’s great strategic challenges, from building sustainable democracies and good governance, to rebuilding the global economy, to combating violent extremism. In President Obama’s remarks to Young African Leaders when he launched and hosted 115 young African delegates in August 2010 at the White House, he noted that “It will be up to you — young people full of talent and imagination — to build the Africa for the next 50 years.” The United States’ goal is to empower young people to solve their own problems by empowering them to be self-reliant, and have a voice in the future of their countries. Youth should also be empowered politically through meaningful political socialization and constructive participation in politics. For a sustained participation of youths in the political processes and structures, they should be educated to know and defend their fundamental human rights. As your general election draws nearer, I call on young men and women here today to explore abundant resources and great opportunities in your nation; take up responsibility and make your voices heard for peace and progress. Project a powerful voice against corruption, advocate for positive change, provide generational insight to developmental issues, invoke creativity and innovation at all levels, and get involved in leadership roles. JEFFREY HAWKINS, US Consul General, presented this at the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria’s annual lecture
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 10:43:46 +0000
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