The present form of dictatorship in our democratic process is visible in the authoritarian nature of Nigeria’s leadership. The conduct of the ‘elected’ officials and especially their arbitrary actions in dealing with both matters of state as well as their relation with their constituents does not reflect any adherence to the rule of law. In fact those who are directing our destiny today have been abusing the civil rights of Nigerians to the extent that both the citizens and rights groups no longer dare exercise their liberty to challenge questionable actions of those in authority.

Nigerians are not treated by their government as they ought to be. The president does not treat Nigerians honestly but rather deal with the people pompously. During times of crisis, the government takes positions unilaterally without weighing all the facts, which goes on to convince most Nigerians that the president does not have the capacity to make sound judgments and provide effective leadership in very critical moments. In a state that observes the rule of law, matters of policy and administrative powers are measured on their effectiveness under the constitutional provisions, and not judged by the presidential powers behind them.

By extending his powers beyond the opposition’s right to weigh and criticize constructively, it would prove a dangerous and risky compromise on the side of opposition parties. The government is currently out to blackmail and indict those who refuse to compromise to its abuse of law and the constitution. It is a culture of if you do nothing; nothing will be done to you. The recent pronouncement by the president that he wants to govern without opposition is a clear indication that the president and his party are leading us dangerously like a dilapidated ship in a stormy sea.

 

 

 

 (c) The Optimist Voice. Al rights reserved

 

NIGERIA NEWS

Response to NTA’s “On the Rule Of law”

Abba B. Shuwa, Leeds, UK …June 4, 2011

The Nigerian Television Authority news of Wednesday 1st June 2011 carried a story on the rule of law by Femi Okeowo.  The report sampled the views of some prominent legal luminaries on the issue and after listening to their views as well as the manner the report was structured I came to the conclusion that the interpretation given by the so-called learned professionals were rather simplistic and myopic or that both the interviewer and the interviewees lacked adequate knowledge or accurate knowledge of the requirements for a rule of law in a modern democracy.

I do wish to point out that the application of the rule of law is not just determined by the cases dispensed in law courts or by mere compliance with court orders or access to court.  Moreover just because we claim to be governed democratically does not mean that those running the government are applying the general principles of modern democracy of which the application of the rule of law forms a fundamental aspect of the process of any valid democracy.

The report failed to mention whether or not the various arms of government in Nigeria do in fact confer upon themselves the arbitrary use of power. Even if the report wishes to stay away from adjudging that is does take place by providing examples people see of such every day, the least they can do is demonstrate how such abuse of power may be addressed.  Not doing either inevitably shows the flaws inherent in the report. It is evident that our politicians have conferred upon themselves unlimited powers against those guaranteed by the constitution. Similarly, the managing executives of government funded and managed organizations such as the NTA that are supposed to be nonpartisan, were seen to have become an accessory of the ruling party, taking arbitrary decisions to block and deny the opposition its right to criticize the government.

For it has been observed that democratic dictators do not just take over governments by all means, but that they usurp the power from the hands of the weak and demoralized politicians and feeble executives. Any democratic state which does not attain and maintain its hold to power through the votes of the people but uses the strength of armed men cannot be described as a legitimate democracy.