12 Dec 2008 |
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More lessons for Nigeria By Reuben Abati "THE Ghanaians have done it again." "We shouldn't compare apples and oranges. I am tired of Nigerians always comparing their country to Ghana." "I don't see why not. The two countries became independent about the same period in history. They were both colonized by the British. Both countries have shared years, if not centuries, of cultural relations. And in any case, there is almost a mirror-effect between the two countries. It is difficult not to compare." "Well, Nigeria is a big country. We are over 150 million people. What is Ghana's population?" " Twenty three million. But I am not talking about numbers. I am talking about values, attitudes, national progress; the capacity of one country to reinvent itself, and the other country's predilection for failure, its tragic tendency to self-destruct." "I guess you are talking about Ghana's Parliamentary and Presidential elections of December 7." "Correct. There are many lessons we can, and that we should learn from the Ghanaians." "General Yakubu Gowon has said so already. So what else do you want to add?" "I think the nature of the lessons need to be properly defined. For me, that is very important. Ghanaians are Africans like us." "And they have been able to organize elections successfully...I think we should not always seize every opportunity to ridicule Nigeria." "But we must learn to tell ourselves the truth. At the end of Nigeria's elections in 2007, the European team of observers had written off the entire process, saying that it was the worst election known to humankind. The same EU has praised the elections in Ghana as free and fair, and a true reflection of the will of the people." "So?" "Other observers have said the same thing, candidates in the election too. Commonwealth Observers describe the elections as marking a good day for Africa. The ECOWAS Mission says the process is credible. The Ghanaians have held elections in 2000, 2004 and in 2008, in two instances, they have changed the baton from one President to another and they have managed to get it right, without ridiculing themselves. What exactly is wrong with us in Nigeria?" "I recall that last year, Professor Maurice Iwu, Nigeria's Electoral Commission Chairman, had threatened that God will punish anybody who dismissed the 2007 elections as a sham. Something like that, or some statement about critics of INEC being enemies of Nigeria." "Was it not the same Professor Iwu who said President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was the best candidate in the 2007 Presidential election? Have you heard, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission in Ghana, making any such partisan statements? In Ghana, you get the impression of impartiality. Dr Kwadjo Afari-Gyan and his commissioners are the heroes of the election. In Nigeria, electoral officials never leave anyone in doubt that they are politicians too." "Professor Iwu is required by law to be a politician. The same is true for other members of the National Electoral Commission. Unless, we change that, we should not complain." "The complete neutrality and independence of the Electoral Commission is one of the recommendations of the Uwais Panel on Electoral Reform." "But there is also something here about culture and values. The Ghanaians are different. They are sober and patriotic. We are fiery and restless." "I am convinced that corruption is at the heart of it all. I have not heard of ballot box stuffing, snatching or manipulation in Ghana. Nobody attacked the Electoral Commission Headquarters a day to the election. Incumbent President John Kuffour has not told Ghanaians how to vote. There are no reports of violence." "Well, a few days before the election, there was some violence in the Northern part of Ghana." "That is nothing. In Nigeria, we can't even organize local government elections. Just before the Ghana elections, over 500 persons were killed in Jos, Nigeria, because of local council elections. The Ghanaians are about to change an entire government and the Heavens are still in place. All the eight Presidential candidates in Ghana have conducted themselves with utmost responsibility as gentlemen." "One of the eight is even an independent candidate, and he got over 19,000 votes." "Again, the Ghanaians are ahead here. We should also allow independents to participate in Nigerian elections. No man should be disallowed a chance to pursue his dreams simply because he is not affiliated to a political party." "But there are issues, even in Ghana, about independent candidacy. The fellow was not allowed to participate in the Presidential debate, and he was denied resources because the law says a Presidential candidate must have lawmakers in parliament. So even in Ghana, there is need for reform." "We need electoral reform, more urgently in Nigeria. Can you imagine anybody talking about a run-off in a Nigerian election? That run-off may never be allowed to take place. But look at the two contenders for the Ghanaian Presidency. Nana Akufo-Addo (New Patriotic Party) and John Atta-Mills (National Democratic Congress) have accepted the results and they are willing to prepare for the December 28 run-off. There has been no name-calling; no threats, so much civility." "You like to exaggerate. Actually, the NDC complained that the ruling NPP was planning to use the military to rig the elections." "Which the military promptly rejected. If these were Nigerians, by now, there will be so much tension in the country. Akufo-Addo has 49.13% in the first round. If he were a Nigerian, he would have insisted that he got the required 50% plus one required number of votes and that if he is not allowed to claim victory, there will be fire on the mountain." "The Electoral Commission voided about 205, 000 votes." "You see, the ruling party and its candidate would have insisted that those votes belong to them. But nobody in Ghana is talking about annulment, Third term or do-or-die" "Except that the NDC could well have made similar claims. The NDC has majority seats in parliament. It has also won seven out of the 10 regions. And like Obama, Atta Mills, who has 47.92 %, is talking about change." "But who do you think will win on December 28." "Candidly, it is difficult to say. But one thing you can be sure of is that this has been a good moment so far for Ghana. The people of Ghana have shown that they are better than the Nigerians, Kenyans and the people of Zimbabwe, when it comes to managing democracy. If the NDC wins the presidency on December 28, it will be the second time in eight years that an incumbent party in Ghana will lose the Presidency to the opposition. The NDC lost to the NPP in 2000, 2004, bringing John Kuffour to power and now in 2008, the NDC may beat the NPP. In Nigeria, we have to learn that incumbency does not mean winning by all means." "In Ghana, the voice of the people and their choice, matter. This is what we have seen. That makes a lot of difference." "I'd like to see what happens in Ekiti state during the coming local council elections in that state on December 20" " I am even looking beyond Ekiti. I am already looking forward to the 2011 elections. It is likely to be bloody." "The Ghanaians are sorting out their elections smoothly and without a hitch, almost two years later, we are not even sure in Nigeria who exactly won the Presidential election in 2007." "That will be determined today. The Supreme Court is ruling on the matter today. " "So what do you think?" "I don't foresee any problem. Their Lordships will rule in Yar'Adua's favour but they may make some earth-shaking statements that will again further confirm the view that we have a lot to learn about how to run a democratic society. I can bet on that." "But what if..." "Don't bother yourself. There are no ifs. There are only buts. Nigeria is troubled enough as it is. I don't see the Supreme Court giving any ruling that will further destabilize the country. The law is a social modulator you know" "You are saying that the judgment will be informed by political sagacity." "You should be careful. You are treading in the valley of the shadow of contempt of court." "But I see that President Yar'Adua is unfazed. He says this country needs to address the menace of corruption." "That is what the Supreme Court of Nigeria is expected to do today." "That is not what President Yar'Adua is talking about. He wants Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to be abrogated so that the 74 public officials who enjoy immunity under the constitution while they are in office can be held liable for whatever offences they commit." "I agree. But you also have to do something about the system. The Nigerian system is structured to hide, promote and encourage corruption. Even if Section 308 is removed, this must be supported with the political will to try corrupt Governors, their Deputies, the President and the Vice president. To do that, we must begin with the premise that nobody is above the law, and that public officials are not monarchs with Divine Rights but ordinary men and women." "That is what the president is saying invariably. But it is not enough for him to talk. He needs to prove that his government really means what it says." "Look at the Governor of the state of Illinois in the United States, Rod Blagojevich. The man who wants to sell Obama's Senatorial seat to the highest bidder. He is definitely going to jail. The FBI evidence against him is overwhelming" "The man should have been a Governor in Nigeria. What he has done, trying to cut a deal, and arrange something for himself, is standard and familiar practice in Nigeria. In the 1999 elections, some Godfathers collected money openly from aspirants and supported the highest bidder. In every election, most Nigerian voters support only the highest bidder. In Oyo state, Adedibu practically sold the Governorship seat to Ladoja. When the man refused to pay, he got him kicked out. Ngige also lost his seat because he refused to pay." "But the Americans are telling us that you cannot sell elective positions. It is not a cash and carry affair. And that whoever does so, is under the big watchful eyes of Big Brother. Where is the Nigerian equivalent of the FBI?" "They are busy eating pepper soup and acting as bodyguards and house boys to the same enemies of the state that they are supposed to be watching." "We need people who can protect the Nigerian state from within" "We have a long way to go." "But we can't give up. We have to keep talking". "That is if they don't end up telling you that your mouth is dirty." "Oh. Tell me about dirty mouths. You know in Zimbabwe, Mugabe's Information Minister has issued a statement telling all the foreign leaders criticizing Zimbabwe and Mugabe to shut their dirty mouths" "There are more dirty mouths in Zimbabwe, cholera mouths, dirty leaders dirty deeds, dirty money, all because Mugabe does not want change or progress. He is the biggest dirty mouth of the world". "I know some Nigerians with dirty mouths." "You are on your own o".
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