Enablers of authoritarianism in Nigeria, By Dakuku Peterside 

The enablers of authoritarianism are well-entrenched in Nigeria’s political panorama. A weak legislature, a compromised judiciary, a fragmented civil society, an ineffective labour motion, and a politicised media have all contributed to the nation’s democratic decline. The unchecked focus of energy within the presidency has additional exacerbated this pattern. Pressing motion is required to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy. There’s have to strengthen institutional independence to stop govt overreach…

Democracy is commonly solid because the antithesis of authoritarian rule — a beacon of liberty standing agency in opposition to the shadows of oppression. But, historical past tells a extra intricate story. Authoritarian regimes hardly ever storm the gates; as a substitute, they slip quietly by the corridors of energy, rising not as abrupt usurpers however as offspring of the very programs meant to protect in opposition to them. In our trendy age, the autumn of democracy is seldom marked by a single, violent coup. It’s a gradual, insidious unravelling — the regular decay of establishments, the quiet bending of norms. It’s the gradual give up of freedom, handed over piece by piece, usually within the title of rule of legislation or safety. Thus, the trail to autocracy will not be carved by drive alone however paved with the very stones as soon as laid to uphold democracy.

Authoritarianism, not like in historical occasions, doesn’t emerge like a light-weight swap. So, we will rightly say that the intersection of democracy and authoritarianism is gradual. This gradual shift from democracy to authoritarianism is commonly enabled. In Nigeria, there’s rising concern amongst political analysts that the nation is witnessing the rise of authoritarian tendencies inside its democratic establishments. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been accused of manipulating democratic processes to consolidate energy. Subsequently, the query will not be whether or not authoritarianism is looming however how it’s being enabled and perpetuated. Pressing motion is required to stop additional erosion of democratic norms.

Political analysts have argued {that a} vital software to rein in most political actors is financial instability and impoverishment, which causes them to modify to survival mode. Nigeria’s social and financial circumstances have created an ecosystem that makes the manipulation of democratic establishments simpler than earlier than. The APC has been significantly instrumental on this erosion, utilizing its huge monetary energy to regulate the political class, which is especially in a survival mode and has no choice however to grow to be pliant to partake of the largesse of govt financial energy.

In addition to, poverty has been weaponised, and many individuals are both busy combating to earn a residing or simply nonchalant about confronting a democratic authorities that’s steadily sliding into authoritarianism. This ecosystem is on full show right this moment in Nigeria. It solely takes a political management fascinated about the advantages of authoritarianism to activate these enablers. The ruling APC has a lot energy to govern the democratic programs unchecked and with impunity.

Frequent enablers of authoritarianism are a rubber-stamp legislature, a compromised judiciary, and an impotent civil society, significantly a labour motion that has misplaced its virility. Different enablers embrace a media that prioritises propaganda and financial positive aspects over nationwide curiosity and, elite greed. A vital examination of how these enablers play out in our nation right this moment will assist us admire the democratic backslide we’re experiencing.

A useful legislature serves as a vital examine on govt energy. Nevertheless, Nigeria’s Nationwide Meeting has more and more grow to be subservient to the manager. A legislature can allow autocracy both by deliberate design or by default. By default, rampant corruption amongst lawmakers has compromised the integrity of legislative oversight. Legislators fail to problem govt overreach on account of private monetary pursuits. Intentionally, if a dominant political get together has an authoritarian agenda, it could actually use the legislature to rubber-stamp govt choices. A subservient legislature is a Nationwide Meeting that goes in opposition to the constitutional process in each respect to please the Sovereign.

The judiciary, because the final line of defence for democracy, is predicted to uphold the rule of legislation. Nevertheless, judicial choices in Nigeria have more and more been seen as influenced by private and exterior pursuits, reasonably than strict authorized rules. Corrupt judges ship judgments that favour these in energy. The political infiltration of judicial establishments has eroded public belief within the judiciary. Judicial interpretations are regularly skewed to justify undemocratic actions.

With its management of each legislative homes, the APC has weakened parliamentary independence. One of the blatant examples of legislative subservience is the unconstitutional use of a voice vote in figuring out a two-thirds majority, as seen in vital choices, resembling approving President Tinubu’s emergency proclamation. The explanations are clear. Part 305(2) & (6)(b) of the 1999 Structure of Nigeria (as amended) states that no less than two-thirds of all members of every Home (Senate and Home of Representatives) should approve an emergency proclamation. A voice vote (the place members say “Aye” or “Nay”) can’t precisely rely the required two-thirds majority. Democracy in its pure kind is about counting numbers.

When a supermajority (resembling two-thirds) is required, a recorded vote is important to make sure compliance with the constitutional requirement. The Standing Orders of the Senate and Home sometimes require a roll name or digital voting system to find out numerical compliance for such vital choices. A voice vote is inadequate in figuring out a two-thirds majority within the Nationwide Meeting for an emergency proclamation. A proper recorded vote have to be performed to substantiate the precise variety of lawmakers in assist of the declaration.

So, the process adopted by the Home of Representatives and Senate in approving President Tinubu’s proclamation is improper. You can not decide two-thirds by a voice vote. It’s each unlawful and undemocratic. Hussaini Abdu aptly captures the state of the legislature: “The Nationwide Meeting has lengthy deserted its position as a consultant physique meant to carry the manager accountable. As a substitute, it has devolved right into a transactional area the place self-enrichment and energy negotiations take priority over democratic accountability.”

The judiciary, because the final line of defence for democracy, is predicted to uphold the rule of legislation. Nevertheless, judicial choices in Nigeria have more and more been seen as influenced by private and exterior pursuits, reasonably than strict authorized rules. Corrupt judges ship judgments that favour these in energy. The political infiltration of judicial establishments has eroded public belief within the judiciary. Judicial interpretations are regularly skewed to justify undemocratic actions. A notable case was the latest Supreme Courtroom ruling on the Rivers State disaster that dumbfounded many authorized consultants and the general public, and exacerbated the political imbroglio within the state, ultimately resulting in the president’s declaration of a state of emergency. When the judiciary ceases to be impartial, democratic governance crumbles, leaving residents with no recourse for justice. In Nigeria, there’s a widespread perception that judicial rulings — particularly in election disputes — are decided by political and monetary issues, reasonably than authorized advantage.

A strong civil society is crucial for holding authorities accountable. Nevertheless, Nigeria’s civil society has suffered from a extreme decline in effectiveness on account of varied components. There’s a whole breakdown of the buildings that allow residents to organise, advocate, and maintain energy accountable. The absence of nationalistic political consciousness has fragmented advocacy efforts. Many civil society teams have been co-opted by political elites, ensuing within the dilution of their activism. The legacies of outstanding activists like Gani Fawehinmi, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, Chima Ubani, and Pa EK Clark are fading, with few rising leaders prepared to take up the mantle of resistance. Professor Wole Soyinka has gone previous his prime. Olisa Agbakoba and Femi Falana have finished their bit. The place is the successor technology of activists? With out an organised and vibrant civil society, authoritarian tendencies will flourish unchecked, as there’s little resistance from the populace. The necessity for a robust civil society is extra urgent than ever.

Nigerians should recognise the warning indicators of authoritarianism and take proactive steps to withstand its encroachment earlier than it turns into completely entrenched. A Nigeria the place democratic establishments are genuinely impartial, and governance is pushed by transparency and accountability remains to be attainable. Nevertheless, it requires a collective effort to push again in opposition to authoritarian enablers and restore the democratic rules upon which the nation was based.

Labour unions have traditionally performed a vital position in resisting authoritarian regimes. Nevertheless, Nigeria’s Labour Congress (NLC) and Commerce Union Congress (TUC) have grow to be more and more toothless. The federal government has successfully neutralised the facility of labour unions by financial pressures and divide-and-rule techniques. The NLC’s repeated failure to execute nationwide strikes has eroded its credibility. In 2023, regardless of a number of bulletins of deliberate nationwide strikes to protest gas subsidy removing and inflation, the strikes had been both suspended or ineffective on account of authorities interference. Abiodun Oluwadare captures it this fashion: “The NLC’s incapacity to ship on its threats and repeated backing down from strikes has led to a lack of public belief. This makes mass mobilisation troublesome, permitting governments and companies to disregard its calls for.” Labour has not, since 2023, efficiently influenced the federal government to vary its place on any matter of public curiosity.

A free press is a elementary pillar of democracy. Nevertheless, the Nigerian media has more and more prioritised propaganda and monetary pursuits over journalistic integrity. Many media homes align with political or ethnic factions, thereby lowering their objectivity. Journalists are sometimes financially compromised into silence. Authorities-friendly narratives dominate the mainstream media, limiting entry to dissenting views. This erosion of media independence has led to a public that’s both misinformed or intentionally stored at midnight about essential nationwide points.

Aso Rock is fascinated about controlling all “levers of energy,” and sometimes overshadowing different arms of presidency. This focus of energy has led to diminished institutional checks and balances, with the presidential curiosity overriding legislative choices. Nigeria is seeing a resurgence of authoritarian tendencies within the silencing of dissenting voices. A full-fledged authoritarian regime is barely a matter of time. Nigeria has grow to be much less liberal over the past two years, as a result of manipulation of vital establishments of democracy. The judiciary regularly validates undemocratic actions below authorized pretexts, and lawmakers serve govt pursuits reasonably than the voters.

The enablers of authoritarianism are well-entrenched in Nigeria’s political panorama. A weak legislature, a compromised judiciary, a fragmented civil society, an ineffective labour motion, and a politicised media have all contributed to the nation’s democratic decline. The unchecked focus of energy within the presidency has additional exacerbated this pattern. Pressing motion is required to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy. There’s have to strengthen institutional independence to stop govt overreach, revive the civil society, re-establish activist actions to demand accountability, guarantee media objectivity and independence, and encourage energetic citizen participation in governance.

Democracy will not be self-sustaining. It requires fixed vigilance and dedication from each the management and the citizenry. Nigerians should recognise the warning indicators of authoritarianism and take proactive steps to withstand its encroachment earlier than it turns into completely entrenched. A Nigeria the place democratic establishments are genuinely impartial, and governance is pushed by transparency and accountability remains to be attainable. Nevertheless, it requires a collective effort to push again in opposition to authoritarian enablers and restore the democratic rules upon which the nation was based.

Dakuku Peterside, a public sector turnaround knowledgeable, public coverage analyst and management coach, is the creator of the forthcoming ebook, “Main in a Storm”, a ebook on disaster management.