As
published by POLITICS TODAY NEWSPAPER Saturday, January 07, 2016
Whereas with the incarceration of the likes of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and increase in the numbers of PDP’s stalwarts in DSS and EFCC’s custody while under investigations and trials over alleged looting of the nation’s treasury, it is not really surprising at all that the PDP and other opposition elements in Nigeria are blaring out the emerging dictatorial propensity of President Buhari. What have been the premises of their arguments? Is their argument tenable? In what ways has Buhari manifested dictatorship? Fundamentally, I am here to do a rethink of some of these argument lines. What are Buhari’s dictatorial antecedents? What are the socio-political and economic conditionalities in Nigeria that could facilitate emergence of a dictator? What do Nigerians tend to gain or lose with Buhari’s dictatorship? Judging by the antecedents of some historical benevolent dictators, can we allow Buhari to become a democratic dictator? If Buhari’s dictatorship will help Nigeria achieve progress and development, while can’t we allow him to become one? Can Buhari’s dictatorship help the country to recover looted funds? Too many questions begging for answers and we may not exhaust them all in this (single) piece
.
With almost two decades
of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, many had argued that it will be very
difficult for a dictator to emerge in Nigeria. Some opined that this is
impossible since the nation’s constitution is anchored on democratic
principles. Many pointed to the complexity and complicatedness inherent in
Nigeria’s heterogeneity. However, dictatorship has surfaced where it is least
expected. It had arisen among prosperous, educated and civilized people
who seemed safe from a dictatorship – in Africa, Europe, Asia and South
America. Historically, Nigeria has had her dose of dictatorship through
military leaders such as Abacha, Babangida, Buhari, etc. The first thing I want
to dissect is to reconsider some of the imperatives that can trigger the
dictatorship of Buhari.
Consider Hitler’s Germany
as one of the most paradoxical and striking cases. While there was some German
anti-Semitic agitation during the late 19th century,
Germany did not seem the most likely place for dictatorship to thrive.
Hitler manipulated the polity by arousing Germany’s nationalistic jingoism to
promote his dictatorship. Likewise, Russia, after all, had pogroms in terms of
anti-Jewish rioting and persecution for decades. In the same manner, Russia’s
Bolshevik regime dedicated itself to Karl Marx’s hatred for the ‘bourgeoisie’ blamed
for society’s ills. Afterwards, Lenin’s subtle dictatorship became
exemplified through his ‘command economy’ he executed during the Russian Civil
War between the White Army and the Red Army. Lenin’s successor, Stalin (a
brutal dictator) pushed that philosophy farther, exterminating the so-called
‘corrupt rich’ who came to include rich peasants (kulaks) through his ‘purge’.
It is germane to point out that economic recession/depression suffered by
Germany and Russia also promoted the dictatorships of the leaders mentioned
above. This was applicable to the emergence of Mussolini’s dictatorship in Italy.
Boko Haram’s insurgency/terrorism in the northeast,
Niger-Delta Avengers’ attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta, and
discordant secession demands for the Republic of Biafra in the southeast can
push a president to seek for ‘emergency power’ to deal with the problems.
Evidently, these aforementioned national challenges had drastically increased
the military involvement in governance particularly in the public and political
domain. With a president who has military background, this portends a call for
dictatorship. Incessant Fulani herdsmen attacks nationwide, communal clashes in
the middle-belt, religious massacre in Southern Kaduna and other maligns are also
currently invading and besieging Nigeria’s suzerainty. Thus, amidst these
cacophonous seas of conflicts and challenges pervading Nigeria’s polity, the
country remains vulnerable to emergence of a dictator. Many had pointed to the
seemingly ambivalence of Buhari’s presidency to some of these ethnic-based
clashes particularly to those orchestrated by his marauding kinsmen (the
Fulanis) and Islamic chauvinists. If as alleged, Buhari is truly a stark
promoter of Hausa/Fulani agenda or Islamic fundamentalism, the current
situations can increase his propensity towards dictatorship.
Beyond the above discussion, with the
incessant unveiling of the looting spree of previous government and the
connivance of the judiciary, then it will not be out of place for the president
to mature into embracing or unleashing his dictatorial propensity to fight
corruption - one of the major monsters
invading the nation’s fabrics. . In the same vein,
politicians commonly demand arbitrary power to deal with a national emergency
and restore order, even though underlying problems are commonly caused by bad
government policies. In the same vein, in hard times, many people are often
willing to go along with and support totalitarianism that would be unthinkable
in normal democratic times. Bad economic policies and foreign policies can
cause crises that have dangerous political consequences which could promote
dictatorship. Aspiring dictators sometimes give away their intentions by their
evident desire to destroy opponents.
Those
who dismiss the possibility of a dictatorial regime in Nigeria need to consider
possible developments that could make our circumstances worse and politically
more volatile than they are now – like endemic corruption, soaring taxes, pogroms,
inter tribal wars, inflation and economic collapse. No doubt, the Nigerian political
system with a separation of powers and checks & balances as entrenched in
the Constitution does make it more difficult for emergence of a dictator. Like my readers, I am fully aware of the
1948 fundamental human rights and the rights entrenched in our constitution. As
an advocate of social justice, I strongly believe in freedom of speech,
association and expression, freedom of every person to worship God in his own way,
freedom from want, freedom from fear according to Roosevelt’s
understanding of a ‘moral democracy’. This discussion shall continue here next
Saturday. I wish you all happy New Year
once again.
