2019: MY VOTE IS… (11) AGAINST NIGERIA’S ‘DEMOCRACY’

In continuation of our series MY VOTE IS…FOR or AGAINST (also available at https://saturdaycolumn.blogspot.com/ and https://linkedin.com/in/bala-muhammad-0784384), the Supplementary Elections were conducted, ‘injunctioned’, counted and recounted. The country’s four-year ritual called elections has come and gone but has left in its wake a trail of murderous blood and many a broken bone. And the culprit is […]

In continuation of our series MY VOTE IS…FOR or AGAINST (also available at https://saturdaycolumn.blogspot.com/ and https://linkedin.com/in/bala-muhammad-0784384), the Supplementary Elections were conducted, ‘injunctioned’, counted and recounted. The country’s four-year ritual called elections has come and gone but has left in its wake a trail of murderous blood and many a broken bone. And the culprit is no doubt this contraption called ‘Democracy Nigeriana’.

MY VOTE THEREFORE…AGAINST Nigeria’s so-called ‘democracy’. This is NOT a democracy we are running. It is not even politics. It is nothing near these terms. It is simply mayhem. It is blue murder in cold, red blood. And this page has never hidden its dislike for this system by whatever name called. African and especially Nigerian versions of democracy are rituals of murder, corruption, lawlessness and brigandage.

More than four years ago, at the eve of the 2015 elections, this Column ran a piece titled “…AND THEY SAY ‘GOD GIVES POWER…’”? Today, we update that article because the same situation of 2015 played itself out in this 2019, especially at the states level.

Nigerian politicians, Muslim and Christian, by their own mouths utter words they believe not! Yea, they mouth ‘ma laisa fi qulubihim’; that which is not in their hearts! They intone “God’s Gives Power” every day. They say it over and over to befuddle their subjects, but it is a statement they are so far away from.

Indeed, we believe that God does give power. In the Holy Qur’an Sura Ale-Imran (The Family of Imran) 3:26, Allah says: “Say: “O Allah Lord of power! Thou givest power to whom Thou pleasest, and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest: Thou enduest with honour whom Thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest: In Thy hand is all good. Verily, over all things Thou hast power.”

Do Nigerian political leaders believe in God and His Power to bestow power? No, they apparently don’t. In fact, they think they ARE God! Is it not said that “Vox populi, vox Dei”? That “The voice of the people is the voice of God”? Why don’t Nigerian political leaders allow the people to voice their voice, which is the voice of God? Why do they utter and mutter and stutter that it is their own singular voices that should be the voice of God?

THE 2019 HIGHLIGHTS: A former minister highly suspected of corruption has been elected Governor, and therefore becomes ‘immunised’ from prosecution, opening the door of that impunity called immunity; A school drop-out has just been declared Governor-Elect by the Elect of the Judiciary; A winning governorship candidate has been decidedly defeated by Executive Thugs; A suspected oil thief has been elected to Senate, therefore distinguishing himself; A governorship election has been won by 300+ votes out of about One Million Votes cast; And in many places, more people turned out to vote than those on INEC voters’ register!

GOVERNORS DESPERATE TO GO TO SENATE: Senate has become the Resting (nay Nesting) Place for outgoing Governors. And God help you Distinguished Senator if your Governor is from your Zone and is outgoing. And God may not help you because as you did so you will be done by. Is it good or bad news that Senators Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe) and Yariman Bakura (Zamfara) have finally been ‘retired’ by the same godsons they had ab initio imposed, but have now turned around to snatch their senate seats?

GOVERNORS DESPERATE TO CONTINUE: Many Governors completing a First Term see a Second Term as imperative, necessary and urgent. In fact, any one standing on the way is bulldozed, unless the challenger can mobilise Infrastructure of the Stomach and is supported by Federal Might. But hurray! Some change has come in Bauchi and Adamawa. And the reason these incumbents failed? They do NOT have a political leader in the mould of former President Obasanjo.

GOVERNORS DESPERATE TO IMPOSE SUCCESSORS: What impunity! In this country, Governors desperately impose on people those who will succeed them while mouthing ‘God Gives Power’. In Zamfara, it happened. So in Imo and Oyo and Ogun. And the reverse happened in Lagos where the Jagaba dethroned one and enthroned another. Where is ‘God Gives Power’? Where is Vox populi? We only hear Vox Excellency!

DEPUTY GOVERNORS DESPERATE TO SUCCEED BOSSES: Allah Sarki Spare Tyres! In Zamfara, our good friend and brother Deputy Governor Ibrahim Wakkala is among the ‘rebel’ group challenging Governor Yari’s imposition – and they are in court. No governor trusts his deputy to succeed him. In 2015, the only exception was Kano’s Ganduje whose principal, then Governor Kwankwaso, willy nilly ‘enthroned’. But in 2019 Kwankwaso returned, desperate to ‘dethrone’ Ganduje. And nearly did. Over in Jigawa, Deputy Governor Ibrahim Hadejia saw the writing on the wall – he shunned Governor Badaru’s second term and opted for Senate. He won. In Kaduna, Bantex tried ditto, but failed.

JUDGES HAPPY ELECTION TRIBUNAL PICKINGS AFOOT: It is not a lie that many a judge appointed to an Election Tribunal is congratulated by colleagues, spouses and relatives and expectant community (a la corporate social responsibility corruption). Good fortune has smiled on these judges. Good fortune, not Good God. Appellant and Respondent would both ‘dance’ the dance of Lion King – Hakuna Matata. Whatever happens, Election Tribune will smile away to the spouse.

POLICE AND PARA-SECURITY: May Allah protect us from the Stray Bullet. And the Straight Bullet! Vox Murderae! With fingers always ready on the trigger, and eager to thumb-print ballot papers in the darkness of the night, the security apparatuses were active big time in 2019.

DELEGATES DEVALUE NAIRA COURTESY POLITICIANS: Your Naira has been devalued. They tell you it is because oil price has fallen. Nope! The delegate bribing arsenal is in Dollars. And the Bureaux de Canji! The thug who is given Ten Thousand Naira for thuggery before devaluation would still get Ten Thousand Naira – but the poor thing doesn’t know he is getting only Six Thousand Naira in real terms!

INEC OFFICIALS AND RETURN RETURNS: INEC officials in the states also smiled home as ‘returns’ returned. No collations or announcements are done without them. The Wayo Professor at the top appointed his colleague Professors as Returning Officers. Those bespectacled academics are only Returning Officers; INEC officials are still the Turning Officers.

Nigerian political leaders are playing God. Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace, said in a Hadith (Al Bukhari Volume 9 Book 89 Number 260 narrated by Abdur-Rahman bin Samura): “O Abdur-Rahman! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking (for it), then you will be helped (by Allah) in it…”

And in Hadith Number 263, narrated Abu Musa, it is said: “Two men from my tribe and I entered upon the Prophet. One of the two men said to the Prophet, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Appoint me as a governor,’ and so did the second. The Prophet said, ‘We do not assign the authority of ruling to those who ask for it, nor to those who are keen to have it.’”

And who should be our leaders? In the Bible, Exodus 18:21, it is said: “…look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs…”

MEN WHO FEAR GOD, WHO ARE TRUSTWORTHY AND HATE A BRIBE! And they say “God Gives Power”? Which God?

O God! We bring to Your notice that which You already noted: our leaders are using Your Exalted Name in vain!