18th February, 2014
By Tayo Ogunbiyi
The most universally suitable and acceptable definition of democracy is the one that refers to it as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. The implication of this definition is that it is the people that give impetus to democracy. In essence, you cannot have democracy without the people. It is the people that set democracy in motion. It is the people that act as the oil that galvanises the wheel of democracy. In Nigeria, at present, there is, however, a dodgy trend, as far as sustaining democracy is concerned. This concerns the current situation in the country in respect of voters’ apathy. The word ‘apathy’ , which has its source in Greek, plainly means ‘without feelings’. According to Victor Marie Hugo, French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement, ‘the apathetic are alive but without feelings, so they are not living. They are the living dead’. Therefore, in line with Hugo’s line of thought, voters’ apathy simply refers to the insensitivity of the people towards the electoral press, particularly voting.
A recent statistics from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, aptly captures the existing trend in voters’ apathy in the country. According to the data, only about 35% of the over 70 million who registered to vote in the 2011 general elections really participated in the voting process. This implies that over 65% of registered voters did not partake in the process that determined the election of the present crop of leaders across the country. This is not good enough. This is a dangerous trend that must essentially be a source of serious concern to all genuine stakeholders in the polity.
This growing trend has grievous implications on the prospect of democracy in the country. For one, it ensures that leaders who attain political power via the votes of the minority rule over the majority. Second, because they don’t get to power through the votes of the majority, they tend to espouse self-seeking agenda. Third, it casts serious aspersion on the kind of democracy we practice. Furthermore, it makes elected political leaders unaccountable to the people since they did not, in the real sense, derive their coming to power from the majority of registered voters. Also, it makes it a bit hypocritical for those who did not turn out to vote to criticise those who were elected through the same process that they shunned. As it is often said, ‘you cannot eat your cake and have it’.
There are lots of factors responsible for the heightened status of voters’ apathy in the country. For one, those who shun the polls readily inform you that their votes would not count. There is this pre-conceived notion among Nigerians that the outcome of most elections in the country are pre-determined. Consequently, they believe that it is not worth taking part in a process that is fraught with deception. Also, most Nigerians hold the view that the electoral process in the country is replete with violence. Those with this opinion point to the high number of people that have died through the political process. Similarly, many consider the political class undeserving of their votes because of their perceived insincerity to electoral promises. The failure of the political parties to embrace internal democracy is equally accountable for the prevalence of voters’ apathy in the country. The culture of imposing candidates without popular appeal on the people is one that most Nigerians do not approve of and this is reflected in their shunning the ballot.
However, irrespective of the genuineness of the reasons, as highlighted here, it is counterproductive for the people to shun elections. Some people gave their lives for us to enjoy the democracy that we have today. It is, therefore, a great injustice to their memories, if this culture of voters’ apathy continues. It is important to understand and appreciate that we did not get the present democracy on a platter of gold. We need to respect the supreme sacrifices paid by some patriots who laid down their lives for us to enjoy this participatory democracy. This can only be demonstrated through our unconditional commitment to the political process. In any case, when the majority refuse to participate in voting, that does not in any way invalidate the outcome of elections. Sadly, we all suffer the consequences of staying aloof when the wrong people get into elected political offices.
If democracy is to truly be the government of the people by the people and for the people, as it has been famously, and rightly so, referred, then the people must own the process from the beginning to the end. Active involvement in the political process signifies that everyone is a critical stakeholder having the best interest of the country at heart. It is a practical demonstration of being a responsible citizen.
To lure the people back to the polls, elected political leaders, at all levels, should not take the electorate for granted by not fulfilling electoral promises. It is sheer treachery to do this. Those that ignore all difficulties in order to participate in voting ought to be given a better deal. Also, the practice of turning elections into a ‘do or die’ affair should be discouraged by politicians to avert undermining the electoral process through violence. Additionally, INEC, Political parties, the civil society, the media and other stakeholders should give greater attention to voters’ education as well as other enlightenment campaigns that could re-enact the confidence of the people in the electoral process.
Democracy is best defended by those it is meant for; the people. But for democracy to really serve the interest of the people, they must respect all democratic norms and principles. Today, we all look at some of the advanced democracies of the world with envy. The truth, however, is that they have achieved greatness through the strengthening of grassroots democracy. Of course, there is no other way through which democracy could be strengthened other than the involvement of the majority of the people in the democratic process.
•Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.