Nigeria’s Democracy Is Very Weak”  –  Prof Ibrahim

By Ayodele Oni

A political scientist and academic, Prof Jibrin Ibrahim, has preferred panacea to save Nigeria’s democracy.

According to him, saving democracy would “require resisting the deep culture of corruption and criminality, as well as rebuilding a political culture of transparency and  accountability.

Prof Ibrahim, who is Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja pointed out that “During elections, godfathers have been able to determine who gets nominated to contest for elections in political party primaries and who wins the elections subsequently.

“Today, the democratic system has been completely eroded by the sale and purchase of votes during elections.

“Nigeria’s democracy is very weak today as a significant part of the political class are undermining democratic processes as they milk the political system for personal profit.

“The task before the nation is to encourage people with competence and a commitment to the public good to come out and contest and displace criminal elements that are currently entrenched in the system.

“It would not be easy but saving the country requires that this task needs to be done.

“There is no surprise that Nigeria is infamous for the significant role godfathers play in the country’s politics and political economy.

“I still remember when Chris Uba, the onetime acclaimed godfather of Anambra State politics, in a moment of intense self-satisfaction after the 2003 general elections, declared that, ‘I am the greatest  godfather in Nigeria because this is the first time an individual outside government single-handed put in position every politician in the State.’

“This effusion of self-satisfaction signalled the eclipse of Emeka Offor, the previous pretender to the throne of godfather in Anambra, who in 1999 had determined the governor of the State and about 60 percent of the members of the state legislature.

“Mr. Uba was able to advance from imposing 60 per cent of the members to 100 per cent, meaning that he determined who became governor, the three senators and members of the federal and state assemblies.

“The fact that Nigerian godfathers have had the effrontery to define themselves as men – yes, they are almost exclusively male – who have the power to substitute themselves for the voting citizenry is deeply disturbing.”