Have you wondered why Nigeria political system is characterized and thrive through godfatherism which has impeded development & progress and deprived the people their democratic power?
Until Nigeria fixes her electoral system and processes to be independent, rid of manipulation, and reflect the people's will, good governance is far fetched.
god father cum electoral systems have taken over the people's constitutional and democratic power of choosing their leaders.
Nowadays, people no longer make aspirants winners rather gaining god-father's support makes you a winner.
When the power to choose and elect leaders no longer resides with the people it births lack of accountability, impunity, weak systems, lack of transparent operations and processes in public institutions and affairs which all produce ineffective leadership and bad governance. What a vicious cycle!!!
Now the case is god-father cum corrupt electoral system vs The people
To further deepen the understanding of the message conveyed in this article, what would be the answer to this question below?
As a governor who are you answerable or accountable to between a god-father cum corrupt electoral system that gave you power as against the people whose power is a mere camouflage ? Definitely the god father! You only respect your source of power otherwise you face his wrath just as Gov. Obaseke is facing currently all because power does not reside with the people.
When the power to select and elect leaders resides on an individual (god father) the people become irrelevant and their interest becomes secondary to the leader. The interest of a source of power ( be it a group of god fathers or one) will always be the primary purpose of the beneficiary of the power which defeats the purpose of Democracy.
In every system of government, a source of power ( king maker) will always stand to benefit most.
In a monarchy system of government, the monarch is perceived to be as rich as his kingdom as the wealth of the kingdom are his. As seen in countries like Brunei, Arab families in Arab world. This is so because the power does not come from the people. In such areas good governance, transparency and accountability to the people is a choice and not a necessity because the power does not come from the people.
In the case of Dubai, and other colleague states that are experiencing developmental strides and good governance was a voluntary choice of the Monarchs who have the heart and interest of the people at heart. They can choose to go otherwise and there wouldn't be any call for a change of leadership because the power doesn't come from the people.
The same vein in military regimes. A dictator can rule as long as he wants irrespective of his inhuman nature of governance and lack of care to the people because the power doesn't come from the people.
It is against this backdrop that Democracy came into existence and took the front-line. It was long over due for power to return and reside with the people to entrench accountability, transparency, common wealth among the people, development and security as attributes of good governance.
Any practice contrary to this, where an individual or a group of individuals ( god-fathers) are more powerful than the people, it is no longer democracy being practiced. The people are at the mercy of the power source (god fathers) for good governance.
This is evidenced in some instances, where an individual power source, falls out with the beneficiary of the power ( god son) when the god son refuses to give access or allot common wealth of the people to the power source ( god father).
lets take a practical instance in the recent political development in Edo state.
Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseke before his disqualification from participating in the Edo APC primary election, went about visiting bourdillon and Aso rock soliciting and begging for supports. You know this support is not the kind of support ordinary people give. This support is victory in itself. In the real sense of it, this is the kind of support that should reside with the people.
If the people actually had this support (true power to elect) Obaseke wouldn't bother visiting an estranged god fathers trying to mend ways rather he would mend ways with the people.
He knows the corrupt electoral processes and systems that brought him to power. And such is glaring in his face to depose him. The people didn't elect him and the people cant remove him . Only what brought him to power can remove him. And that's exactly his fate now.
Now one would ask, where are the powers that reside with the people?
Where is the democracy we claim to be practicing ?
The answer is simple.
They have been hijacked by the god-fathers through unfair and manipulative electoral systems and processes.
The people are just playing to the gallery. Their powers are fake, voiceless and action-less. That is why many who have come to the realization of this, don't bother themselves with voting because it has become exercise in futility.
Now what is the way forward for the people to regain their constitutional electoral power?
Simple!
Lets brainstorm and develop electoral system and processes that convey and put the people's will to action.
Electoral system and process that only has one voice which is the voice of the people.
Electoral system and process that is devoid of rigging and manipulation.
With such reformed and adequate system in place, any political leader who wants to remain relevant in power, will have no option than to act in the collective interest of the people which is good governance. And in turn, trigger patriotism in the people. As accountability and good governance births patriotism and development.
When power truly resides with the people, political leaders become effective and take up their responsibilities to the people with adequate impact and when there is adequate impact there is patriotism and the presence of patriotism produces unity and collective pursuit of national goals which results in growth and development. virtues cycle!!!
No matter the level of rot in the electoral system, it is very achievable.
As seen in developed democracies, the faith and confidence of the people in their electoral system is very intact because it reflects their will, hence serve as benchmark to the leaders to work for the sole interest of the people always.
