AFRICAN ECON :: THE OPTIMIST VOICE

EDITORIAL

Democracy or Democraze (Crazy demo) …March 5, 2011

Campaigns by all major political parties in Nigeria are in high gear, but it has become very clear that the playing field is not level. A lot has transpired that should call attention to serious issues of manipulations, as well as constitutional violations since the primaries, and still obtain today.

It was credibly reported, for example, that even within his party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar the Northern consensus candidate was denied access to legitimate information due him as a candidate equally vying for the Presidential ticket of the ruling party PDP.   Though he has more legitimacy to the seat based on party policy that zones Presidency to regions of the nation at a time, he was kept out of the loop of official party activities, and effectively barred from access to delegates in various states of the federation. In one reported incidence, some delegates Atiku’s team had never met up until party convention were kept secretly at a hotel away from the official venue they should be at, until voting time. Sources say such steps came from directives illegally issued by the Presidency and followed up by money offers, and at times threats and bullying by its lieutenants. These were not just reports but issues that were confirmed by the Atiku campaign team.

Down the road, today the campaign teams from various parties do not appear to be receiving the same coverage by the national TV network that are funded by the federal government. The constitution guarantees equal access to all parties regardless of whether it is the ruling party or opposition parties.   And that is not even the most incredible thing. Some state governments in trying to win favors with the Presidency began to ban various campaigns planned within their states by opposition parties, and they act in the final minutes of such preparations usually a day before or else on the days of the campaign, just to sabotage all the meager avenues the opposition have to showcase themselves to the public.

The Optimist Voice inquired as to the sources of the funds used by the ruling party (Presidency), and the First Lady team. The duo have been campaigning separately but diligently around the nation, and it is clearly visible that the cost to the nation, if it is coming from the national treasury, should be enormous. Optimist was surprised that not only are the cost shouldered by the nation, the opposition parties do not enjoy that privilege. In a constitutional democracy, the party is separate from the government. If there are provisions for funding campaigns from government coffers, the funds are equally allocated to all registered political parties before the campaign, and accounted for afterwards.

A Hausa proverb says a weekend that will go well is judged from midweek occurrences. (Juma’ar da zata ta yi kyau daga Laraba ake ganewa). If the April elections could be gleaned from present and past activities, it is highly likely that the government will use not only government funds illegally against the opposition, but also other institutions of the federal government such as the security operatives, polling agents, as well as state government personnel to rig the election in their favor. And that surely is a clear violation of the Nigerian constitution, and the rule of law.

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