In latest weeks, we’ve witnessed a flurry of native authorities elections throughout Nigeria. Many people had excessive hopes, particularly after the Supreme Courtroom granted monetary autonomy to native governments a number of months again.
The thrill was palpable – lastly, a possibility for grassroots improvement! However because the mud settles, it’s clear we’ve been served a well-known dish of disappointment, with a facet of political chicanery.Let’s not mince phrases: these elections have been nothing in need of a farce. From north to south, it’s been the identical previous story – ruling events in states sweeping the polls with a cleanliness that might make even essentially the most fastidious housekeeper blush.
In Akwa Ibom State, they tossed an area authorities to the All Progressives Congress (APC), presumably as a celebration favour to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. How beneficiant of them! Benue, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Kwara, Imo, Sokoto, Anambra and Enugu? Identical script, totally different solid.
However the actual spectacle was in Rivers State. Right here’s a political magic trick for you: the Motion Peoples Occasion (APP), an outfit with about as a lot nationwide construction as my grandmother’s knitting circle, in some way managed to win nearly all of the native governments. Their secret weapon? The backing of the state governor. Abracadabra, certainly!
I’ve stated it earlier than, and I’ll say it once more – for Nigeria to actually progress, we’d like high quality leaders in any respect ranges. The president alone can’t drag us to the promised land. It’s like anticipating a single ox to tug a practice – it’s not taking place. We’d like good governance permeating each layer of presidency, from the lofty heights of Aso Rock right down to essentially the most humble native council.
When native authorities autonomy was introduced, I used to be genuinely excited. I assumed, “Lastly! A possibility for competent people to step up.” In spite of everything, with monetary autonomy, being an area authorities chairman now seems to be extra appetising than a seat within the Home of Representatives. It’s like being supplied a luxurious meal as a substitute of a bag of stale chips.However what did we get as a substitute? The identical previous political quick meals – fast, unsatisfying, and leaving a foul style in our mouths.
The best way these elections performed out makes a mockery of the whole idea of native authorities autonomy. If governors can merely sit of their air-conditioned workplaces, play political chess with native authorities positions, and appoint their stooges as chairmen, why hassle with the charade of elections? It’s like internet hosting a race the place the winner is set earlier than the beginning gun is fired.This example ought to ship shivers down our spines, particularly after we contemplate the requires state police. If state electoral commissions dance so readily to the governors’ tunes, think about the potential for abuse with state-controlled legislation enforcement. It’s a recipe for catastrophe that even essentially the most adventurous political chef ought to keep away from.
So, what’s the way in which ahead? Some have urged that the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) ought to take over native authorities elections. I’m inclined to agree. Not less than with INEC, we now have a shot at one thing resembling a good course of. However let’s not child ourselves – that is Nigeria, in spite of everything. Our legislators have an uncanny skill to search out loopholes in even essentially the most watertight methods. It’s like they’ve a PhD in “Electoral Manipulation Research”,
The unhappy fact is, irrespective of how well-intentioned our electoral our bodies may be, our legislators all the time appear to discover a method to sport the system. It’s a nationwide expertise we ought to be far much less pleased with. We’re like escape artists, however as a substitute of escaping from chains, we’re escaping from accountability and fairplay.This entire scenario speaks volumes about our political tradition. We’ve created a system the place the idea of a free and truthful election on the native stage is as uncommon as a snowfall in Lagos. It’s a damning indictment of our democratic course of, or lack thereof.
The irony is palpable. We declare to need improvement on the grassroots, but we’ve turned native authorities elections right into a political puppet present, with state governors pulling the strings. It’s as if we’re allergic to precise democracy on the native stage.
We the individuals, aren’t innocent on this farce. Our collective shrug at these electoral shenanigans is a part of the issue. We’ve grow to be so accustomed to this political theatre that we barely elevate an eyebrow when total native governments are gained and not using a single vote solid.It’s like we’re watching a badly written cleaning soap opera, realizing the plot is ridiculous however tuning in anyway.The implications of this joke we name native authorities elections are far-reaching. We’re stifling native initiatives, suffocating grassroots management, and basically telling our communities, “Sorry, your voices don’t matter.” It’s a slap within the face to the very idea of consultant democracy.
Furthermore, this charade is breeding a harmful stage of cynicism among the many populace. When individuals lose religion within the electoral course of on the native stage, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than that disillusionment spreads upwards. We’re cultivating a technology of residents who view elections not as a democratic train, however as a predetermined final result – a political sport the place the cube are all the time loaded.So, the place will we go from right here? Handing over the reins to INEC may be a begin, but it surely’s not a panacea. We’d like a whole overhaul of our political tradition. We have to foster an setting the place native leaders are accountable to their communities, to not state governors. We have to create methods that make it just about unimaginable for any single entity to control native elections.
However most significantly, we have to get up. We, the individuals, have to refuse to be spectators on this political farce. We have to demand higher, to name out these electoral charades for what they’re, and to insist on real illustration on the native stage.
Till we do, these native authorities elections will stay what they’re – a joke. Nevertheless it’s a joke that’s costing us our democracy, our improvement, and our future. And that, my fellow Nigerians, isn’t any laughing matter.
