It has been quite an achievement to have celebrated 15 years of uninterrupted democracy. The first and second republics were not so fortunate. Longevity eluded them for reasons which are very well known.
Unfortunately, it is a very long way from Uhuru. Real entrenchment of democracy continues to elude us. The conventional wisdom at the moment is that we have enacted civilian rule rather than a flourishing full-blown democracy. In the early days, The Economist of London damningly referred to the nascent polity as a “semi-democracy.”
It is sad that events have not confounded this observation. A lot of the distortion has to do with the lack of perception and introspection is certainly called for. Unfortunately the polity has never really given credence to the memory of those high and low who made the ultimate sacrifice for the restoration of democracy.
That this has not been done is why there is an absence of focus which would have led to the consolidation of democracy. In contradistinction, the highly revered late United States President, Abraham Lincoln as well as more recently the secular saint, Dr. Nelson Mandela made the connection. For as the man credited with being pivotal in laying the foundation for the study of the discipline of history, Herodotus sensibly observed, “a person who does not know anything about those events which occurred before he was born will remain forever a child.”
By not learning from history we continue to, in the local pathos, “womble and fumble.” In contradistinction, Lincoln in the famous Gettysburg address made the historical connection. As he pointed out at Gettysburg, “…that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain…”
It is following from these resolve to acknowledge the sacrifices made, that the recognition was made that the consolidation of democracy was imperative in order to avoid a reenactment. From there came the famous injunction: “That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
In consolidating our democracy, we must always remember Lincoln’s admonition. Today as we look forward to another June 12 we must accept that our democracy is imperiled. The country as of now is at total war with a sect whose mission is to truncate democracy and the secularity of the state. These forces have to be checkmated.
To do so, our democracy must be deepened. It beholds the political elite to appreciate that the objective conditions which has led to terrorism was sown by the dereliction of duty of successive governments, in particular the military. Now that the chickens have come home to roost, it is only the consolidation of democratic ethos that can provide the necessary counterpoint.
It is inconvertible that the people of this country have been short-changed. They have not reaped the dividend of democracy. This is because governments have been derelict in their responsibilities. This is not the democracy people fought and died for to restore. Of course, compared to military regimes, gains have been made. However, the democratic space has still not been widened.
The dividends of democracy ought to have come, for example by way of mass “social” or affordable housing. In this way, the country would have gone a long way in enacting a home owning democracy. This was a great achievement of former President Lula da Silva’s presidency in Brazil. For the construction of one million affordable housing a year directed at the most disadvantaged was a real dividend of democracy.
Inevitably, a home owning democracy eventually translates into a tax paying democracy. Indeed, a democracy which is not sustained by the taxes of millions of citizens cannot be a real democracy. Unfortunately, in spite of the valiant effort of people like Mrs. IfuekoOmogui-Okaru, we have not moved in that correct direction. Nigeria is still sadly, 15 years on very much a rental state based on consumption rather than production.
This is where the present national conference becomes important. For democracy to flourish, the Nigerian state has to be retooled in favour of productive activity. The rental state must go. In particular, the allocation of resources, as well as the revenue allocation formula must now favour the inducement of productive activities. This will lead to a more balanced political economy.
With pivotal elections just around the corner, our democracy must be protected. To do so will require a national democratic agreement reflecting the maturity of our political class. This is not yet in place. Perhaps, the national conference can be instrumental in negotiating this. For it is vitally needed now.
Our democracy as Lincoln said at Gettysburg “will long endure.” However, in the spirit of June 12 and the struggle for the restoration of democracy that followed, its consolidation must be fought for.