Nigeria recently celebrated its 66th Independence Anniversary, prompting reflections on the country's progress and challenges. President Bola Tinubu is expected to address the nation on October 1. The call for fixing Nigeria's politics to achieve good governance and development has gained momentum. Dr. Oby Ezekwesili's Fix Politics Nigeria project, through the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, aims to develop a new generation of public leaders across Africa. The project focuses on building value-driven leaders grounded in character, competence, and capacity.
Nigeria's democratic history dates back to 1923, with the first general election held after the coming into force of Sir Hugh Clifford's Constitution of 1922. Despite over a century of voting, the country's development indices have not improved significantly. The nation has experienced 29 years of military interregnum and over three years of civil war. However, it has also had 27 unbroken years of civil rule in the Fourth Republic. The nature and character of Nigerian politics have been cited as major obstacles to development. The country's politics is often characterized by primitive accumulation of ill-gotten wealth and self-aggrandizement.
Nigerian politicians often deploy the Machiavellian principle of "the end justifies the means" to achieve their goals. This approach contrasts with Mahatma Gandhi's advocacy for politics grounded in ethics and principles. The Machiavellian principle is associated with realism, focusing on practical outcomes rather than moral implications. This approach has been linked to ruthlessness in politics, including fraud, treachery, and elimination of political opponents. Critics argue that this principle has contributed to the country's governance challenges.
The notion that a gentleman cannot be a successful politician has become a popular lingo in Nigeria. This is because politicians are often seen as willing to do whatever it takes to win and maintain power. They have mastered the strategy of "divide and rule" to achieve their goals. The ruling party often tries to avoid a united opposition and sows seeds of discord among citizens using tribe, ethnicity, and religion. This has led to state capture, where democratic institutions are subjugated to the whims and caprices of the ruling party.
Fixing Nigeria's politics would have immense benefits for citizens, including the rule of law, supremacy of the law, and transparency and accountability in governance. Corruption would be minimized, and due process would become the new normal. A recent Democracy and Governance Forum in Abuja highlighted the need for reform in Nigeria's electoral process and democratic participation. The forum noted the shrinking of civic and political space and the attempt at state capture of democratic institutions.
A report titled "Before the Ballot: Nigeria's 2026 Party Primaries as a test for Electoral Credibility" was recently presented, highlighting the shortcomings of the party primaries. The report made recommendations on what needs to be done ahead of the 2027 General Elections. The research observed that Nigerian politicians across 22 registered political parties could not organize flawless and non-controversial party primaries. This has led to numerous court cases challenging the nominations of party candidates.
The 2027 General Elections are expected to be a test of Nigeria's democratic progress. The international community, including the European Union, is supporting democratic governance in Nigeria. The country's development indices are expected to improve if the right reforms are implemented. The Fix Politics Nigeria project and other initiatives aim to promote good governance and development in Nigeria. The nation's future depends on its ability to reform its politics and achieve sustainable development.
Key points
- Fixing Nigeria's politics is crucial for achieving good governance and development.
- The country's politics is often characterized by primitive accumulation of ill-gotten wealth and self-aggrandizement.
- The Machiavellian principle of "the end justifies the means" has been linked to ruthlessness in Nigerian politics.
