The power of the Clintons' example

By Reuben Abati

SENATOR Barack Obama's acceptance speech yesterday night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, marked the formal end of a one and half year, long and bitter struggle for the Democratic party Presidential ticket, and for Obama, for his supporters in and outside America, and for the black race, it was a great, moving, historic moment. Obama is the first black man in American history to win the US Presidential ticket. It is no longer a dream; it is now a reality; he is no longer the presumptive candidate, he has been declared the party's presidential nominee, not by a full roll call, but by acclamation. But the more memorable event of the Democratic Convention which began on Monday, is the grace, the heroism, the example of Hillary and Bill Clinton, or what cynics may refer to as the Bill and Hillary show.

Human beings, be they white or brown, are not always good losers, and in such moments as the Clintons found themselves at the Democratic Convention, there have been a few poor, grumpy losers in the past. But the power of the Clintons' example is a great lesson in sportsmanship, and self-preservation and knowing when in politics, to seize the moment and run with it, a useful lesson also in how transparency, good internal democratic governance can produce a flowering of civility even in the most melodramatic situations. There are lessons here for Nigerians.

On stage at the Democratic Convention on Tuesday and Wednesday, was Hillary Clinton, acting the cheer-leader for Senator Barack Obama. In a speech that has been rated good or very good, and from self-serving to clever, Mrs Clinton delivered the following memorably quotable lines. In endorsing her former arch-rival, she said: "we are in the same team, and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines... Barack Obama must be our next President." My immediate reaction: what if Hillary Clinton were a Nigerian politician?

On Michelle Obama, the would-be First Lady of the United States, Mrs Clinton was ever so gracious: "Anyone who saw Michelle's speech last night knows she will be a great First Lady for America". Then she campaigned for Obama by taking a swipe at George Bush and John McCain: "it's fitting that George Bush and John McCain will be appearing together in the twin Cities (for the Republican National Convention) because it's awfully hard to tell them apart." The innuendo is sharp enough. And even clearer in her declaration: "No way, no how, no McCain". And in an absolute show of sportsmanship, she asked her supporters to back Obama. This drew murmurs of No from her die-hard supporters, who protested that Hillary Clinton cannot dictate what their choice should be. But her point had been made.

What was clear is that she has reconciled herself to the fact of her loss in the Democratic primaries, and is willing to support the party's choice for the Presidential election. If her response and performance at the Democratic Convention was stage-managed as some critics have pointed out, it was nonetheless a wise political gesture.

She came out of it smelling like a thousand roses. She showed up as a team player, and she wasted no opportunity in advertising her strong points and political relevance by underlying the feminist significance of her participation and performance in the primaries. She thanked the "sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits", and made allusions to the suffragette movement and its heroes. In retrospect it was if she was campaigning for 2012, when she would be 64, and still young enough to make another bid for the topmost office in the United States. Mrs Clinton showed character and strength, she stayed the course till the very end, and the standing ovation, the outpouring of affection that she received were well-deserved.

As delegates votes were being counted and it got to the turn of the state of New York, Mrs Clinton walked up and moved a motion for the suspension of the votes count: "With eyes firmly fixed on the future in the spirit of unity with the goal of victory . . . let's declare together, in one voice, right here and right now that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president," she said. And Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi brought down the gavel to shouts of yes. Moving that motion was a woman who ran a tough race with Obama for the Democratic party nomination. She won 18 million supporters (1,640 delegates to Obama's 1, 763) and came out as the woman with the strongest showing in the US Presidential primaries ever. Mrs Clinton did not look like someone at the end of a journey, but at its beginning. Again I wondered: what if she were Nigerian?

Her husband, Bill Clinton, who addressed the Convention on Wednesday, further complemented the power of her example. During the primaries, President Clinton was caught off-guard on more than one occasion saying the wrong things and looking like a bad player. But he made up for all that on Wednesday when he spoke nicely about the man who defeated his wife. Hear him: "Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world. Ready to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States... His life is a 21st century incarnation of the American dream. His achievements are proof of our continuing progress toward the more prefect union of our founders' dreams". On the average, both Clintons came out looking good. Sub-textually, the Clintons' pitch was about Hillary Clinton, but it was all so nicely and tastefully done. And in openly commending Barack Obama without necessarily advertising him (Bill Clinton only talked about his being ready: How? He didn't go that far), the Clintons were still civilized and humane. Even daughter Chelsea referred to her mum as "my hero".

The Bill and Hillary show (if that is what it was) is something that is worth commending to Nigerian politicians. Here, political contests always end up in recriminations, bitterness and violence. Nigerian politicians do not know how to lose; they never give up and they are so annoyingly incapable of the kind of civility that the Democrats and the Clintons managed to put up in Denver. I do not recall any loser in a political contest in Nigeria standing up publicly to say anything nice about the winner or the opposition. If Hillary Clinton were a Nigerian, she would have boycotted the Democratic Convention in protest. By now, she would either be in court or she would have kicked up more than enough dust about how the party should be dissolved for failing to nominate her as Presidential candidate.

Ordinarily, she would have asked her 18 million supporters to follow her out of the party and ahead of the Democratic Convention, she would have crossed to the Republican Party and made a bigger show of it. If possible, she would register her own political party where she and her husband and daughter would hold court and call the shots. And if she had stayed in the Democratic party, she would have gone to Denver with lorry-loads of thugs who would have been instructed to disrupt proceedings. There would have been a shoot-out between the Hillary and Obama camps and no one would have talked about unity.

The run-up to the Convention would have been characterized by reports of assassinations. If Hillary wanted to complain, she could have made an issue out of the treachery of party leaders, the change of rules during the primaries and so on. In Nigeria, nothing is ever straightforward in our politics. Winners don't ever win because losers will never accept defeat, and are usually interested in pulling down the roof, by violent means if they can. Winners in Nigeria don't even know how to win. For eight years, Obasanjo and the state Governors treated other Nigerians as if we were inferior to their Excellencies. Obama has been level-headed and humane about his success. For him and Mrs Clinton, it has not been a "do-or-die affair".

But what is responsible for the decency of the American politician? It is the American system, where decorum is everything and perception is stronger than reason. Bill and Hillary Clinton had no option. If they had spoken differently, that would have amounted to political suicide. The US Presidential primaries was an expression of the popular will. To go against that and behave like a renegade would have been incorrect. Here, there are no political primaries in the real sense. It is the will of the Godfathers that prevails. And it is this that creates tension and violence. Members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria often talk about "family affair". What happened at the Democratic Convention in Denver is the true "family affair". In Lagos state at the moment, there is so much anxiety about primaries in the Action Congress for proposed local council elections and the influence of Godfathers. How about that? By Nigerian standards, Bill Clinton would be a Godfather, but in the US Democratic Party he is not in a position to dictate to anybody.

And Hillary Clinton could never have contemplated crossing over to the Republican Party, because being in politics in the United States is about beliefs and choices, not opportunism or one person's ego. In the 2007 elections, some Nigerian politicians changed from one political party to the other, covering up to four political parties, within a space of one year. And should you find one politician in Nigeria who is willing to speak so nicely as the Clintons did, he or she would have insisted on being paid to do so (to offset her campaign expenses and with a little on top of that), with the additional promise that she would get a "juicy position" if the party wins. There were Democrats who wanted an Obama-Clinton ticket, a Nigerian would have worked hard at that possibility; desperately and shamelessly too.

The reform of Nigeria's electoral process and political party system must begin at the level of culture, by addressing those factors which make our politicians so uncivil. Locating the power of choice in the hands of the people, making the leadership recruitment process more transparent and placing the emphasis on service and people rather than power and rewards, making political parties more inclusive and democratic: these are some of the first steps to be taken. I am afraid we haven't even started.

Robot  Villager

# 1 The power of the Clintons' example By Reuben Abati ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 29.08.2008 07:30

LoveNigeria  JJC

# 2 "The Bill and Hillary show (if that is what it was) is something that is worth commending to Nigerian politicians. Here, political contests always end up in recriminations, bitterness and violence. Nigerian politicians do not know how to lose; they never give up and they are so annoyingly incapable of the kind of civility that the Democrats and the Clintons managed to put up in Denver. I do not recall any loser in a political contest in Nigeria standing up publicly to say anything nice about the winner or the opposition. If Hillary Clinton were a Nigerian, she would have boycotted the Democratic Convention in protest. By now, she would either be in court or she would have kicked up more than enough dust about how the party should be dissolved for failing to nominate her as Presidential candidate. Ordinarily, she would have asked her 18 million supporters to follow her out of the party and ahead of the Democratic Convention, she would have crossed to the Republican Party and made a bigger show of it. If possible, she would register her own political party where she and her husband and daughter would hold court and call the shots. And if she had stayed in the Democratic party, she would have gone to Denver with lorry-loads of thugs who would have been instructed to disrupt proceedings. There would have been a shoot-out between the Hillary and Obama camps and no one would have talked about unity. The run-up to the Convention would have been characterized by reports of assassinations. If Hillary wanted to complain, she could have made an issue out of the treachery of party leaders, the change of rules during the primaries and so on. In Nigeria, nothing is ever straightforward in our politics. Winners don't ever win because losers will never accept defeat, and are usually interested in pulling down the roof, by violent means if they can. Winners in Nigeria don't even know how to win. For eight years, Obasanjo and the state Governors treated other Nigerians as if we were inferior to their Excellencies. Obama has been level-headed and humane about his success. For him and Mrs Clinton, it has not been a "do-or-die affair"" Nice one Dr Abati as always. The missing element in your comparison is the goal of the typical politician in both Nigeria and USA. Elections are do or die affair in Nigeria because the Nigerian politician either wants to have access to the treasury or wants to protect their loot. Examples: It is not out of love for Nigeria that Danjuma, Babangida and co were desperate to impose Obasanjo on Nigeria in 1999! Now 9 years later can anyone argue that they haven't achieved their goal ? It is also not for the love for Nigeria that Obasanjo (in desperation -do or die) imposed Yaradua on Nigeria -or that Ibori, Saraki spent that much money on Yaradua campaign! Though it's still early, but can anyone argue Obasanjo, Ibori, Saraki has not achieved their different goals (to a large extent)??. I can only imagine the chaos that will follow if Yaradua were to die in office! What will the north do ? What will happen to Jonathan, Obasanjo, Ibori, Niger Delta e.t.c God help Nigeria. Posted by LoveNigeria| 29.08.2008 08:59

wasab2  JJC

# 3 Dear RA, I have always respect your articles and opinions but in this case I disagree with you. It is true that History is being made in the US politics and what we have withness so far is a nation that have visionary leaders but comparing America to Nigeria is what I cannot take. In Nigeria, politics has alway been winners takes all and in a game that is not fair and free and a clear case of election robbery, you cannot expect the opposion to celebrate with the winner. We all know what happen in April last year and the country has not recover from the show of shame that happen from the election primary to the rigging at the election and how the game has been made to be unfair to some people simply because they are in the opposition to the power that be. All these cannot hapen in America. The presidential primary in the US was very clear and Hillary cannot say she win the election and was robbed for Obama because the rules are set from the beginning. So, RA, when writing in future, stop insulting America by comparing them to Nigeria. Its in comparable.. Posted by wasab2| 29.08.2008 09:29

NextLevel  Villager

# 4 =LoveNigeria;4295090208> Nice one Dr Abati as always. The missing element in your comparison is the goal of the typical politician in both Nigeria and USA. Elections are do or die affair in Nigeria because the Nigerian politician either wants to have access to the treasury or wants to protect their loot. Examples: It is not out of love for Nigeria that Danjuma, Babangida and co were desperate to impose Obasanjo on Nigeria in 1999! Now 9 years later can anyone argue that they haven't achieved their goal ? It is also not for the love for Nigeria that Obasanjo (in desperation -do or die) imposed Yaradua on Nigeria -or that Ibori, Saraki spent that much money on Yaradua campaign! Though it's still early, but can anyone argue Obasanjo, Ibori, Saraki has not achieved their different goals (to a large extent)??. I can only imagine the chaos that will follow if Yaradua were to die in office! What will the north do ? What will happen to Jonathan, Obasanjo, Ibori, Niger Delta e.t.c God help Nigeria. My thoughts exactly. Posted by NextLevel| 29.08.2008 12:14

Idahota  Villager

# 5 =wasab2;4295090232>Dear RA, I have always respect your articles and opinions but in this case I disagree with you. It is true that History is being made in the US politics and what we have withness so far is a nation that have visionary leaders but comparing America to Nigeria is what I cannot take. In Nigeria, politics has alway been winners takes all and in a game that is not fair and free and a clear case of election robbery, you cannot expect the opposion to celebrate with the winner. We all know what happen in April last year and the country has not recover from the show of shame that happen from the election primary to the rigging at the election and how the game has been made to be unfair to some people simply because they are in the opposition to the power that be. All these cannot hapen in America. The presidential primary in the US was very clear and Hillary cannot say she win the election and was robbed for Obama because the rules are set from the beginning. So, RA, when writing in future, stop insulting America by comparing them to Nigeria. Its in comparable.. Totally agree with you. there is no basis for comparing both countries. Posted by Idahota| 29.08.2008 12:37

employlawone  Villager

# 6 =Idahota;4295090358>Totally agree with you. there is no basis for comparing both countries. And here was me thinking Nigeria was a 'democracy' or is it 'demdongocrazy? Posted by employlawone| 29.08.2008 18:44

Dewdrops  Villager

# 7 =Robot;4295090169>The power of the Clintons' example By Reuben Abati ...Read the full article. The Bill and Hillary show (if that is what it was) is something that is worth commending to Nigerian politicians. Here, political contests always end up in recriminations, bitterness and violence. Nigerian politicians do not know how to lose; they never give up and they are so annoyingly incapable of the kind of civility that the Democrats and the Clintons managed to put up in Denver. I do not recall any loser in a political contest in Nigeria standing up publicly to say anything nice about the winner or the opposition. If Hillary Clinton were a Nigerian, she would have boycotted the Democratic Convention in protest. By now, she would either be in court or she would have kicked up more than enough dust about how the party should be dissolved for failing to nominate her as Presidential candidate. The difference between the white brain and the black brain is not a matter of size but utility. But, with other "pertinent" parts of the body. . . . .the reverse may be the case. Or both size and utility are mandatory. So Help Me Lord! Amen! Posted by Dewdrops| 30.08.2008 01:52

olootu  Villager

# 8 RA, Your article captured my thoughts while listening to both Hillary and Clinton. My thoughts? "What if this couple were Nigerians?" Great minds think alike. God bless. Posted by olootu| 30.08.2008 08:22

ajede  JJC

# 9 In Nigeria, political position means access to power, money and influence. To attain those, considerable amount of money is spent, both own and borrowed at future dividends in the form of contracts, positions, money, etc. Since hardly any politician seeks office with mundane aim of helping the people, the loss of a political contest is an unacceptable loss of investment. Imagine yourself congratulating an opponent that will be in control of billions of Naira, a substantial part of which will go into his pocket instead of yours, to be spent lavishly, recklessly, living on an island of stupendous wealth in an ocean of poverty. Posted by ajede| 30.08.2008 10:34

VOR  Villager

# 10 QUOTE> Mrs Clinton delivered the following memorably quotable lines. In endorsing her former arch-rival, she said: "we are in the same team, and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines... Barack Obama must be our next President." My immediate reaction: what if Hillary Clinton were a Nigerian politician? If Hilary were Nigerian, this will definitely not happen. Even if she wished to step down and work for the common interest of her party and candidate, her godfathers, godmothers, supporters etc will prevent this. This is the sort of do-or-die politics we practice in Nigeria. What will happen is, these supporters will head to court to challenge the winners victory, set up their own political party or cross over to another party. I understand their frustration though, because of the lack of transparancy, money politics, back stabbing, underhand moves of some politicians and their parties, it is difficult to believe that an election (even primaries) was free and fair, therefore, the result can be trusted. What I do not understand and cannot accept is the violence that follows, why must people be killed because someone wants to be elected to an office to serve? It shows its not all about service but power and riches. With eyes firmly fixed on the future in the spirit of unity with the goal of victory . . . let's declare together, in one voice, right here and right now that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president," she said. And Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi brought down the gavel to shouts of yes. Moving that motion was a woman who ran a tough race with Obama for the Democratic party nomination. She won 18 million supporters (1,640 delegates to Obama's 1, 763) and came out as the woman with the strongest showing in the US Presidential primaries ever. Mrs Clinton did not look like someone at the end of a journey, but at its beginning. Again I wondered: what if she were Nigerian? Again what will her supporters or even Nigerians say? "She has slept with him, she has collected money, she has been promised political office, she has betrayed her supporters" etc etc etc! Is it not Bill Clinton standing by his wife, how many Nigerian men will stand by their wives when it comes to standing for office? Is it not Michelle standing by her husband, articulate and graceful. Some Nigerian political wives (and I know a number of them) behave like they are goddesses, they cannot be touched..... know your level etc etc!! (and their husband is seeking political office?). How many wives have you seen not only going out to campaign with their husbands but actually SPEAKING at these campaigns? They come out weighed down with gold and gele, you begin to wonder what they have to offer the masses! I know of one aspirants wife who is so possessive of her husband that any woman that comes near the husband wants to sleep with him. I'll you what happened one day, the husband had gone out to campaign, they all came home late, the campaign manager had asked all the people that went for the campaign to sleep in the aspirants house till morning becuase it was late and dangerous to go home. The men were given mats to sleep in the compound and the ladies asked to sleep in the main house. The iya of the house came out about 2am, saw the ladies in the main house, woke them all up and asked them to all get out of her house...called them ashewos etc, can you imagine? Anyway, that was the end of the road for those women and the aspirant. Now tell me, what is that sort of man with that type of wife doing seeking politcal office? For Nigeria to attain the American standard we need to get to work now. Apart from government and religion what other business/work gives people access to millions they need not account for? When we make governance not so attractive the people that really want to serve will step forward, right now, make we siddon dey look. Posted by VOR| 30.08.2008 11:58

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