Rivers crisis: Implications for democracy
On Tuesday, July 9, it was yet another farce in the theatre of the absurd where the dramatis personae, this time, were the 32 honourable (nay, horrible) members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Its resemblance in recent memory took place in the hallowed chamber of the House of Representatives where Dino Melaye and his co-travellers threw honour to the dogs and engaged in a free-for-all that stripped many naked in the full glare of world television cameras.
The reason for the crisis that has engulfed the Rivers State legislature is no longer news, but like a classical musical performance, the music is long gone, but the melody still lingers, which explains why two weeks after the unfortunate incident, Rivers State and its people are yet to come to terms with the truism of that incident.
We see what happened (and is still happening) in Rivers State as an anti-thesis and/or anti-climax given that this was a state that enjoyed public perception as one where democracy was in action and governance had some meaning, yielding visible democratic dividends for its people.
We are aware that anywhere in the world, even in advanced democracies, politicians differ on matters of interest, but it is their ability to sink or rise above such differences that grows their democracy and also deepens their democratic values and culture.
We are alarmed and deeply worried with the way Nigerian politicians trivialise democracy and also personalise democratic institutions, making it extremely difficult for democracy to grow and mature in this country several years after the white man left the political turf for us ‘to do it ourselves’.
Much as we are not interested in who is right or wrong in the Rivers crisis, because we believe that foul is fair and fair is foul, in this instance, we are nonetheless concerned about the implications of this macabre dance on democracy, governance and security of lives and property in the state. Not long ago, the legislator who was hit on the head with the mace by a fellow legislator was reported to have gone into coma after a head surgery, and on Tuesday, July 16, four visiting governors from the northern part of the country were attacked by protesters at the Port Harcourt airport.
With the present development, all democratic activities in the state including legislative debates are now in the cooler; governance has gone on holiday while the people sleep and wake with fear of the unknown.
Democracy thrives where there is separation of powers with the executive, the legislature and the judiciary existing independently, yet working towards a common goal of achieving the greatest good and happiness for the greatest number of people. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Rivers in particular and Nigeria at large.
We take exception to situations where the executive frequently meddles in the affairs of the legislature or the judiciary, trying as always to muzzle their independence by emasculating the members. That is not in the best interest of democracy. We also condemn in unmistakable terms attempts by politicians to use their inordinate ambition to cause confusion, heat up the polity and by so doing derail the course of democracy in their community in particular and the country in general.
Furthermore, we condemn the abuse of the security institution which, regrettably, has been personalised in this country for political reasons. The Nigeria Police is a national institution that should be neutral and apolitical, providing security for every Nigerian irrespective of his tribe, religion or political leaning. The aloofness of the police, especially at the highest level, in the face of the breakdown of law and order in Rivers State amounts to dereliction of duty and we are of the opinion that somebody should be made to pay dearly for that action or inaction.