Political Parties and Electoral Reform

The public reaction to the ruling of the elections petition tribunal sitting in Ogun State, in favour of the incumbent governor Gbenga Daniel was not surprising. The lopsidedness of our electoral system means that the odds are heavily stacked against any opposition. Our democratic system is one of the only few where an incumbent political party does not lose elections. The “absolute” power enjoyed by the incumbent, makes it virtually impossible for any opposition. In a situation where the President controls the electoral commission and law enforcement agents what can we expect? Even in cases where we have had election re-run as result of tribunal ruling, the incumbent still returns to power, even with larger votes! As seen recently in Ekiti State.

The public reaction to ruling against the opposition although expected, should however be treated with caution. As one would expect, the Action Congress (AC) supporters are always quick to point fingers at the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). When PDP win elections, we are constantly reminded of rigging, violence, intimidation etc. When an appeal is lost at the tribunal, the opposition is always quick to say that the Judges have been bribed. Yes I agree that some of that these things do happen, but the question is, does this make the opposition party a “saint”? Does it mean that opposition parties are not involved in rigging? Are we saying opposition parties have never offered bribes to tribunal judges or electoral commissioners? The fact remains that elections in Nigeria are won by the party with best “rigging” machinery. The difference between the incumbent and opposition is that, whilst the opposition employs the services of thugs, the incumbent uses the state apparatus (Police, Army etc). And from a layman’s perspective, a Policeman stuffing a ballot box is worse than a political thug intimidating voters. Also collating election results at the Police station is more serious than inclusion of fictitious names on the voters’ register. But really is one form of electoral fraud worse than another?

It was the same issue when the opposition party candidate in Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola was arrested and charged to court for forgery recently. The Inspector-General of Police alleged that the Police report tendered by Aregbesola is support of his appeal was indeed “forged”. As we will expect, the arrest was seen as another “government magic”. Many political and social commentators saw it as a ploy to suppress the opposition, but thank goodness that we are in democracy. The case is now in court, and it is up to the court to decide if the report was indeed forged. My argument on the issue has always been it is irrelevant if it took the Police twelve months to realise that the report was forged. The most important thing is to establish if it was forged or not. And if the report was forged, the Police have every right to charge him to court. An opposition that is engaged in forgery is no better than the incumbent that has rigged itself into power. We need to start calling a spade a spade, and not just an agricultural instrument.

I understand people’s frustration with the PDP. I agree that the PDP has offered us NOTHING for the last ten years since its being in power. But are the opposition parties any different. What is in the manifesto of AC, PPA, DPA, and ANPP? For me, the current group of political parties are no different from each other. Whilst they may have different names, their ideology and principle are all same – if any! These are parties founded on self-preservation and greed. The parties only provide a platform for people to seek political office, have a bite of the national cake and nothing more.

We have often criticised Former President Obasanjo and PDP for intimidating all the PDP presidential aspirants in 2007in order to pave way for Umar Yar’Adua. It is common knowledge that some of the former governors were even threatened with prosecution. However, how is that different from how Gov. Raji Fashola emerged? Was the imposition of Raji Fashola on AC candidates better than the intimidation of PDP presidential aspirants? Is that what we call democracy? The Fashola issue has however been swept under the carpet because of his popularity. However, if Umar Yar’Adua has also been performing, then how PDP conducted its Presidential primaries might also have been a “dead issue”.

My position is that the clamour for “genuine” electoral reform should be devoid of party partisanship. The interest of the nation should be of utmost importance. The current electoral system is not working, and voters are the biggest losers. Let’s not be deceived, even if an AC candidate becomes President in 2011 under the current system, the issues we have will still remain. Then it will be the PDP crying foul. The challenge with our electoral system is not about political parties. It is the system that has encouraged fraud, thuggery etc. Let’s continue to put pressure on the govt for a genuine electoral reform, instead of shouting AC/PDP or crying wolf. The Justice Uwais Panel report on Electoral Reform is a very comprehensive document. However, the govt has been “cherry picking” which aspect suits it most in order to further perpetuate itself in power. This approach cannot be right. Why can’t we have a healthy debate on the report has presented. I’m not canvassing for a total adoption of all its recommendations because some might not be practical. But the report represents a major starting point.

The Governors Forum and Harvard University Brouhaha!

Hopefully, the recent email from Prof. Robert Rotberg will put the Harvard University brouhaha to bed. From an email published on the Saharareporters website, the much publicised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was “only between Prof Rotberg’s Program and the Governors Forum”. It was NOT a formal agreement between Harvard University and the Governors Forum. And according to Prof Rotberg “the MoU was meant to be the first step in the exploration of a possible training program and as a means of signifying the intent on both sides to work together to craft such a program”.

Opinion seems to be somewhat divided on whether it is right for the State Governors to sign an agreement (MOU or whatever you call it!) with a foreign University for a training program in leadership, good governance, education policy and economic development. Some social commentators argued that, it is a given that most of our Governors are pretty useless and have no clue. And if Harvard University is the place they can be taught, then we should let them go! To them, the Governors will at least be exposed to first class educational facilities, good roads, and potable water supply.

I beg to differ with such arguments. We do not need leaders that want to learn on the job. Our infrastructure is in a state of comatose, educational system is dysfunctional, no pipe borne water, no good roads, no transportation system, university graduates are riding okada, our hospitals have virtually turned into morgues, young children are hawking on the streets, the homeless are sleeping under the bridge, and someone is telling me he needs to visit Harvard before he can solve these problems! It is even preposterous for any state administrator to conceive such idea.

No wonder Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state thinks giving away taxis to his cronies and political jobbers is a ‘mass transit’ program. It shouldn’t also have been a surprise when the South-South Governors Forum talked about floating an airline, as economic development strategy! When the airline industry is consolidating all over the world because of the global economic crisis, some stupid state administrators still feel it is a wise investment. Sometimes you can help but ask yourself, can these people think at all?

For me, I will continue to blame the system that has allowed these self-serving incorrigible human beings to assume position of authority. These traditional politicians or call them ‘professional’ politicians have offered us absolutely nothing! They aspire for political position without any vision, no manifesto, and without basic understanding of what governance means. Tell me, do you need a Harvard University Professor to help comprehend the problem with this nation? How can someone ask his employer to pay for classes on how to perform his primary role, when you are not an apprentice or trainee?

The position of a state governor is not for trainee or apprentice. We need leaders who can hit the ground running. The challenges facing this nation are great, but the actions required are crystal clear.

Unfortunately, these kleptomaniacs have perfected a succession plan that will allow them to recycle themselves in power. And when they pass away, the mantle is passed to their children, some of whom have been trained with ‘stolen money’ at some of the world’s best educational institutions.

Let them continue to promote policies that perpetuate mediocrity in power. Let them continue to use rhetoric and meaningless agendas to manipulate the masses. The odds might seem strong in their favour, but the clock is ticking.

Slowly, but surely………………

Is Gov. Gbenga Daniel Serious At All?

I wrote last week about we can start to reposition the transport sector, if Pres. Yar’Adua is really serious about his Vision 20-20 Agenda. However I seem to always get distracted by other issues, some of which are not totally unrelated to the transport system.

We are a nation with visionless leadership. Our leaders have failed in every tier of government. When you read about projects been proposed or undertaken at national, state or local government level, you can’t help it but laugh. Instead of developing long term strategy for infrastructure development, our leaders waste tax payers on stupid grandiose projects that lack any sort of public benefit. The short-sightedness of our leaders is one of the main reasons Nigeria has failed to develop.

As an example, I read in today’s edition of the Punch Newspaper that Gov Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State distributed 500 taxi cabs in Abeokuta under its Gateway Metro Transport Scheme. The state government intends to distribute 800 taxis under the scheme – which is in its fourth phase.

The Governor was noted to have said that the increasing commercial activities had stretched the transportation system in the state to a critical level, and that the system required a more proactive approach.

According to the Governor, “The new economic posture assumed by our state has continually stretched to almost its unbearable limits the transportation system in the state, especially in the metropolis. The people have had to wait long hours to get vehicles to convey them and their goods from one place to another as demand continue to outstrip supply with prices of commuting resultantly becoming more expensive.”

What manner of proactive transport planning policy is distribution of taxi cabs? How will taxi cabs help contribute to improvement of the transport system? Who actually advises the Governor on transport matters? Who are the bureaucrats advising these politicians? I wouldn’t be surprised if the beneficiaries of taxi scheme are either his cronies or member of his political parties.

According to the 2006 census figures, the population of Ogun State is estimated as 3.7 million. I want to believe that this number is grossly underestimated. Rapid urbanisation of Lagos has spread into some Ogun state townships. There are a significant number of people who live in towns like Sagamu, Ibafon, Mowe, Otta etc who travel to Lagos daily for work. Is Gov Daniel aware of how many commuting from places like Otta, Odogunyan into Lagos daily? The Lagos-Benin expressway corridor is one of the fastest growing parts of the country.

His counterpart (Gov Fashola of Lagos) has left indelible mark in Lagos within two years of assuming office. Whether go or bad, the Bus Rapid Transit has now been operating for about year. He his also on the verge of implementing, what I will say is the biggest infrastructure project in Nigeria in the last three decades (i.e. light rail). However, what can Gov. Daniel show for his six years in office? 500 taxis!

The Governor should be partnering Lagos in areas of transport infrastructure development. For me, Lagos and Ogun is a sub-region. It is for this reason that the Lagos Mega City Project includes Ogun state. Both states should be developing a joint transport strategy. Some of their key priorities should include areas, I have mentioned. Urban planning in the Lagos-Benin corridor also needs serious attention. The state government cannot continue to create new towns along a major highway with national strategic significance without any plan on how it will deal vehicle access issues. Development of key infrastructure should be done objectively and should be devoid of partisan politics.

Unfortunately, the likes of Gov. Daniel encapsulate the mediocre leadership structure that exists in our nation.