The Search for a New Nigeria (23): Democracy, the Challenges of Dictatorship and Egypt Mindset -By Richard Odusanya

About two decades ago, at the Villa Chapel within the Presidential Villa, on the occasion of the then democracy day celebration on 29th May, 2001, our most revered Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye (Daddy G.O) ministered on that occasion. Part of the admonition to the congregation that includes the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, many others and yours truly, is the tendencies of repeating the errors of the past, which, he likened to the days in Egypt.

Ever since the servant of God, Daddy GO warned about the consequences of looking back at Egypt, I kept ruminating about the entire message on that occasion and the consequences of going back to Egypt as it was detailed in the message from Daddy GO.

Fast forward, many years after the wise counsel of God’s servant Daddy GO, the message of that particular democracy day celebration remains indelible and ever green in my memory. I will recommend it to be reproduced by those who are currently in charge of the Villa Chapel.

Thankfully, the current Vice-president Prof Oluyemi Osinbajo, is a pastor and a son of our revered Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. The message should be made public, so that we know that we were foretold of the consequences of certain actions that promotes dishonesty, greed, corruption, leading to were we are today. All of which could be the reason why we are experiencing all manners of negative issues ranging from poor leadership, election rigging, kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, cronyism, nepotism and clannishness.

Pastor Adeboye

Flowing from the above, and having been in the trenches in last one and half decades ago; it will be safe to admit that democracy in the hands of some leaders with military mindsets, is an aberration. It is a poison for democracy. The jackboot mentality is a totalitarian arrangement. Granted that a man’s professional conducts and background is not a determinant factor in consideration for elective position, however, our experience so far with the two retired military leaders turned “born again converted democrat” is not an enviable type.

Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo
The examples of Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari are similar to each other in many areas, including arbitrariness, disregard for rule of law, violations of citizens rights, election rigging, mismanagement of resources, lack of transparency, accountability and trust deficit. The only area that the Obasanjo’s era surpassed any other regime is in the number of political assassinations. So many unresolved political assassinations including that of a sitting Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige of blessed memory among others.

Olusegun Obasanjo

Gen Muhammadu Buhari
It was not surprising that a lot of people believe that, the impunity that we are all witnessing today is a product of yesterday’s rascality. It was Olusegun Obasanjo and his hirelings that laid the foundation. Name it; arbitrariness, corruption, using the military and other security agency in harassment, intimidation of law abiding citizens and total disregard for the rule of law. As a nation, we are experiencing the replay of the Odi and Zaki-biam massacre in the past few months and years, leaving sorrow, tears and blood behind according to Fela Kuti. Can we easily forget the sad events of October 20, 2020? #LekkiMasacre and the regular invasion of people’s private residence in a gestapo manner.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Unlike the above, it is important to bring to bare, the exceptional leadership traits of the two African iconic figures; John Jerry Rawlings and Thomas Sankara, both military officers.

JJ Rawlings
Jerry John Rawlings – not given to frivolity such as titles, rank and materialism unlike many others, particularly in position of authority lived a spartan life. He didn’t elevate himself to the topmost rank, doggedly determined to end corruption and NEPOTISM.

JJ Rawlings

Thomas I.N. Sankara
“Imperialism as a system of exploitation occurs not only in brutal forms of those who come with guns to conquer territory. Imperialism often occurs in more subtle forms; a loan, food, aid and blackmail. We are fighting this system that allows a handful of men on earth to rule all of humanity”- Thomas Isidore Noel Sankara.

“The oppressor would not be strong if he did not have accomplices among the oppressed.”- Simone de Beauvoir. Therefore, it has become imperative that we as a people must be ready to go the extra mile and activate the office of the citizen, take the bull by the horns and define our democracy. The will of the people is mightier than the brute force of tyrants. Civility and the rule of law must replace inhuman and arbitrariness; the types that we are witnessing presently. The world is watching, we cannot be in a democracy and yet be displaying totalitarianism.

The mindset of militarism is an aberration in a DEMOCRACY. What we need is a competent, courageous and fearless leadership that can inspire confidence in Nigerians and navigate the citizens to greatness.

Conclusively, it is absolutely necessary for us to take cognizance of the impediments of the journey to the biblical promised land. We owe it to the memories of our heroes, particularly those who sacrifice their lives for the democracy that we are enjoying today. Arise ‘o compatriots.

Richard Odusanya is a Social Reform Crusader and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE (ACRI).