F OR all the positive statements by each government since 1999 on anti-corruption, the reality suggests that corruption has prevailed each time. Over the past months, the two leading political parties in Nigeria: the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) launched their respective campaigns for the 2019 presidential election. The documents released by both parties espousing their plans for the country provide interesting insights on how the country would fare on a broad range of issues in the next four years should either party win. To enrich Nigeria’s democratic experience in the course of the upcoming elections, it is expedient for citizens to go beyond the headlines and hash-tags to examine the content, pragmatism and potential impact of these plans.
True democracy is the process through which every individual is involved in the management of his society and knows that his opinion has been factored into the decision-making. But democratisation process in Nigeria has been undermined by the patent insincerity of the political leaders both by military and civilian government since Independence. While you cannot have a true democracy without election, the routine conduct of election does not make a true democracy or good governance. Rigging, manipulation and violence are the threats to sustainability and stability of democracy in Nigeria.
A stable policymaking in 2019 elections can only be guaranteed if political parties conform to effective regulations and ethics of democracy. The credibility of the 2019 elections should be beyond winning and losing between candidates, or the unusual demand for freedom of speech. Undoubtedly, one area that needs attention is the funding of political parties. Overall, dealing with corruption at levels of the electorate process would cumulatively form the foundation for a prosperous Nigeria.
Abdulhamid Aliyu, Bayero University, Kano (BUK)
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