The Need for Participatory Politics in The Nigerian Democratic Culture.

Niche: Political News

Odinakaeze Chinonye P.

The need for participatory politics in the Nigerian democratic culture

Every state exists for the common good of its citizenry. And the ultimate goal of the state is good life for all the people that have a stake in it. All the people are the citizenry for whom the state exists. The state, especially in this contemporary time, does not belong wholly or only to the elites, the bourgeoisie and the so-called political godfathers. The Nigerian state is and should not be an exception. The state, Nigeria, is a collective heritage of all Nigerians whether great or small, rich or poor, privileged or not. This timeless truth informs the necessity for participatory politics.

By participatory politics, I look forward to seeing in reality a political situation in which all eligible Nigerians can freely be involved in having a say and/or a role to play in the political affair and public decision-making business in Nigeria. Eligible Nigerians should not be embarrassed, disparaged, disenfranchised or discouraged from active interest in politics. Rather, they should be encouraged morally and otherwise, supported and convinced of the great developmental good that politics brings to citizens that embrace it. Participatory politics creates mass political emancipation. When every Nigerian is actively involved in the political process, bearing in mind that it is our only heritage – the Fatherland, the chance of some politically devious elements playing subterfuge on us will be reduced to the barest minimum. One can only deceive a person all of the time, some of the people some of the time, but can never deceive all of the people all of the time.

By participatory politics, I imply that a consistent and free atmosphere that encourages and promotes majority participation in politics be guaranteed. This is the thrust and core of democracy. A system that gives the citizenry the exercisable right to be involved in the political activities and contribute their quota in part to decision-making that will in turn benefit them is what Nigerians need now. This extols the concept of democracy as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Nigeria’s political fate presently lies in the hands of her politicians. But the political future of Nigeria, her development which requires a collective effort, depends on the Nigerian youths. Thus, the exigency of our need to involve the teeming youths in politics is an indispensable one. In modern Nigeria, there is the need for a far-reaching crusade for political change and re-orientation. The usual average Nigerian’s negative dispensation and passive attitude towards politics must be divested from them, while a positive and productive behaviour be inculcated alongside. If the masses see the need to participate in politics fully and enthusiastically, anticipating a turn-around in the polity, it is inevitable that they would not allow themselves to be amenable to the wangling and ploys of the bad elements among our politicians.

Participatory politics allows the majority of the people to be in the cream of the political system, and not the self-serving oligarchs only. When majority of the people participate in politics, a healthy competitive situation will be created that will enable everyone to work at their best to secure a positive change in the polity. Then, the political fortune of any politician will be based essentially on his/her prowess and charisma – how much and well he/she is able to work to earn it, and no longer by wangling their way through the hijacking of the people’s votes, manipulation of the defaults or taking undue advantage of the lacuna inherent in the nation’s political system.

To achieve this lofty aspiration, we need strong political institutions and not strong men as it were. Our political parties, our judicial system, our legislative houses, our electoral body, INEC, our security agencies, our media, our churches and of course the Nigerian civil society must all wake up from their slumber, be the compatriots we ought to be and obey the nation’s call. We need accept the negative realities of our politics and start working for a noticeable and sustainable change in it with strength, love, sincerity of purpose and faith. In the light of this, a democratic system that indeed upholds the creeds and tenets of true democracy should be brought to bear in Nigerian politics.

About our political parties, it is required of them to develop pro-active and productive measures to handle any cataclysm or to nip in the bud emerging political problems before they become a hydra-headed and intractable monster. Political parties should not only be known to be in existence only during election periods. Rather, they should, from time to time, embark on political education, political orientation and political enlightenment of the masses. They should ensure that they update the masses with information on the state’s affairs and development in government. They should find time to organize meetings in which they can educate the masses politically, entertain questions from them and answer those questions in truth. Political parties’ working committees should embark on field activities occasionally to reach the people and make politics attractive to all to encourage the masses to be active participants in politics.

Importantly, political parties as a feature of democracy, should themselves practice democracy in their internal party politics and adhere to democratic values. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands; must deal equitably. They should be the quintessence, paragons and defenders of our democratic values and foundations. Government and other relevant organizations given to politics should stand out in their defence of and adherence to democratic principles. All these done, others will take a cue from it, and Nigeria will be a better place.

The masses should be made to realize that in a democratic setting like ours, political sovereignty lies in their hands, that their votes are their weapons of influence and in determining the political place of politicians seeking political positions. The masses should be informed that it is their votes that make them precious before self-ambitious politicians, that there is therefore the need to be discreet in the choices they make with their vote and equally, that selling their votes to politicians who do not merit them is proportional to investing one’s hard-earned naira in a moribund financial institution.

Political parties and the organized civil society should realize that it behoves on them to be constructive critics and eagle-eyed observers of political developments in the polity to check and balance the government of the day in ensuring that the latter do not corrupt the political system.

Furthermore, in respect of deepening and sustaining the foundations of democracy in Nigeria, the dividends of democracy should be distributed evenly to the common benefit of the citizenry. Authoritative allocation of our common natural and national resources should be done with prudence, fairness and in keeping with democratic procedures. Every eligible citizen should be allowed equal right and opportunity to vote and/or be voted for. Fundamental human rights as enshrined in the relevant sections of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and every other right whatsoever that a Nigerian citizen should have and enjoy in Nigeria should be promoted, defended and respected in democracy. The hitherto existing lacuna and disconnection between government and the masses should be erased. Open government, transparency, responsibility, responsiveness, accountability, communication and flexibility should be entrenched and upheld as core foundations of democracy. To this end, a positive and laudable democratic trend and culture would be established and take a tenacious root in Nigeria.

Nigeria is our common heritage, our precious Fatherland. We cannot afford to be indifferent to the gallant task of rebuilding it. Our story will be told by posterity with spite and grimness for the gaffe we will be committing to history if we choose to let down the lofty dreams of our founding fathers who worked tirelessly to secure the independence we enjoy today.

Hence, a clarion call is made inviting every Nigerian to contribute his/her own quota in helping build a better Nigeria for all of us and for posterity.

Nigeria, good people, great nation!