Democracy is not Plutocracy

As the agitations for South East Presidency rise to its crescendo, the Social media is awash with clarion calls in support of personalities like Pete Obi for President 2023. The mammoth crowd that accompanied his appearance at the PDP Screening exercise yesterday was so tempestuous that a number of political analysts are getting worried with the question about winning the delegates as more important than winning the masses at this critical time, since elections are not won on the Social Media.

But be that as it may, it is necessary to underscore the fact that in healthier climes, elections can actually be won on the Social Media. In places where the principles of democracy truly reign, the Party delegates should conglomerate to articulate the heartbeat of the people through their representative votes since no party would be willing to take the risk of fielding unpopular candidates, otherwise they would be dead on arrival.

Let me make bold to say here as the PDP and APC Primaries close in, that the delegates should understand that democracy is not plutocracy. Plutocracy is the government of the rich (who control the party) by the rich for the interest of the rich while democracy is the government of the people (whose voice is heard on platforms such as Churches, Markets and the Social media) by the people for the interest of the people. It is true that Nigeria has been practicing plutocracy, being hitherto governed by cabals (usually called stakeholders), but our delegates should realize that with the recent pressures for the reform of the electoral act, Nigeria is gradually coming close to the corridors of true democracy. “Old ways won’t open new doors” says Sullivan Chime. Although we are not yet adopting direct primaries, but at least the electronic transmission of results and a few reforms already achieved may to a large extent control the rate of rigging. But the real danger now lies in the fear of the mega parties presenting for Nigerians again, two unpopular/unfavorable Presidential candidates to choose from as it happened during the 2015 elections.

The delegates are made up of the following;

National Executive Council of the Party, (ii) Members of the National Assembly (past and present), (iii) Serving and Former Governors and their Deputies who are still members of the party, (iv) All Gubernatorial Candidates of the party and their Deputies, (v) Members of the State Houses of Assembly who are members of the party, (vi) Serving and Former Members of the Board of Trustees who are still members of the party, (vii) Elected members of the Zonal Executive Committee and State Working Committees, (viii) All National Assembly Candidates of the party, (ix) Party Chairmen of the L.G.As, (x) One National Delegate from each L.G.A, (xi) All Elected Chairmen and (xii) Former Members of the National Working Committee who are still members of the party.

Yes, these are the people who will decide the fate of Nigerians before the end of this month, May 2022. Their decisions will determine the peace, unity and security of this nation forthwith. For the avoidance of doubt, these delegates need to know that it can’t be business as usual. The agitations we have witnessed especially in the Southern Eastern part of Nigeria is no child’s play. Both the IPOB, MASSOB and NINAS as agitating movements are not jokers. The old business of collecting as much money as possible and selling the future interest of our people must stop. The delegates need to realize that the Youths are angry and agitated, many of them having been hopelessly languishing at home due to the lingering ASUU Strike. The unknown gunmen are all over the bushes waiting for them to come home after the Conventions. It is true that most of the above mentioned delegates are stooges of the State Governors who must pander to their whims and caprices but the times are changing. They also have a conscience and a secure life to live. These delegates are all internet savvy. They are watching and reading daily the heartbeat of the masses they represent. They know sincerely which among the candidates have the capacity and capability to take Nigeria to the next level forward. They should not allow selfish interests to override their sense of judgement, after all, the voting is by secret ballots.

Nigerians are waiting for the surprise of the century. The alignments we have seen in the PDP and APC are not quite encouraging to the masses at all, especially our South Eastern Governors who seem to be betraying the agitations of the masses for Igbo Presidency since after the Civil war. If Igbos are no longer part of Nigeria, we need to know. If the zoning arrangements for Presidency is only meant to serve the North, South South and South West and not include the South East, we need to know by the next one month. We will soon know when the chips are down, if here in Nigeria, Democracy must continue to mean Plutocracy. Let God take control.

Rev. Fr. Ben Agbo writes from Nsukka.