The game of politics involves a process of choosing leaders who are given responsibilities in trust of those who vote them into power. However, since 1999 which is labelled as the day which democracy finds her feet on the political map of Nigeria, it appears that the process of choosing leaders has been much of selection than eletion as it ordnarily supposed to be. This can be understood better using a number of instances cited below.
The shift from Military to Civil rule was a dream no Nigerian thought will it ever come true. When it finally became a reality, it took a different dimension than what most Nigerians least expected. Instead of blessing, it become a near-curse to this nation.
The coming into power by Obasanjo was a puzzle many Nigerians could not solve. This is one man who hardly finished his jail term for criminal charges which his convictors believed that his freedom was against the peaceful co-existence of people of Nigeria and the government of that period. Taking him (Obasanjo) out of prison and cleaning him of all his sins in the name of presidential pardon was a clear indication that this man is heading to a selection avenue. The 1999 election result that brought him in power demonstrated clearly that he was not the choice of the entire western states, neither was he the choice many Nigerians in some other parts of the country; Yet he was the choice selective imposed on the collective will of the Nigeria populace. Most governors who served under him had one or two issues relating to electoral irregularities. On the whole, they were forcefully selected against the will of the masses who never knew that their votes count very little in the selection process, since all their efforts were in the name of ‘election’.
In 2003 the selection process was heading towards perfection. This was a period when youths were hired to use guns during elections in favour of aspirants who were bent on seeing themselves in the corridor of power. There were massive blood sheds in so many polling stations while in some polling units/communities, elections did not hold yet results were announced. The media reports received across the nation indicate that, only one-third of the leaders were genuinely elected. Others battle in court even up to their final year in office. While some stolen mandates were regained others used power of incumbency to over power their opponents who were apparently the choice of the masses.
In 2007 general election, Nigerians had already adjusted to the new demands of election in the country. Every one could predict what was going to happen. The police proved to be less effective in granting a secure atmosphere for elections and in some areas, only those who are arm-fit could dare the election venues. Hundreds of people died innocently for a cause they believed in, that is to cast a vote that will ellect a leader who will pay attention to the plight of the suffering masses; yet their cases were not taken up and followed for justice to prevail. The killers go free which send a sign of warning for those who want to cross their paths in the leadership tussle.
A rough estimate of the people who lost their lives from 1999 to date in the name of electoral crisis, if properly examine, could doubled the deaths Nigeria recorded during thirty something years of military rule. The selective imposition of leaders against the wishes of the masses has done more harm than the blessings of the so called democracy. Our freedom is rapped in bondage by the word democracy. Our collective zeal to choose leaders democratically has been killed by the same people who preach to democracy to us.
If we elect leaders, we can hold them accountable to their evil against us. But when leaders are forcefully imposed on us in the name of a mirage word called “election”, we can not do even little to question their evil acts/policies even though we are recipient of such policies.
The trumpet of Rebranding Nigeria has been blowing for over two years now. 2011 election marks a timeline for truly rebranded leaders to come on board and help in establishing the ethics and values which are being preached by the Rebranding Crew. A truly rebranded nation, must start during election because elections are grounds which honest, hardworking, and good leaders receive their mandate to serve those who elect them into power.
FREE AND FAIR 2011 Election is one of the critical areas that will make this Rebranding Nigeria campaign a success. No selective imposition of leaders on the masses. Let every vote counts.
