CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
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Nigeria |
ELECTIONS
The fun, the thrill, the joy and sorrows of election campaigning in Nigeria, where 70 million voters have 30 registered parties to choose from. The author sets the scene and describes the atmosphere for us
Editor’s note: Parliamentary elections: 12 April; — Presidential and Governors’ elections: 19 April;
possible runoffs: 26-29 April; — State Houses of Assembly elections: on 3 May
Winner o-o-oh! —Winner! Winner o-o-oh!— winner!! Jesus you don win o-o! — Winner!!! Pata-pata you go win for ever! — Winner». (i.e. «Jesus, you have won. Jesus, you will win completely and you will remain a winner forever»).
This is one of the many lyrics composed in pidgin English by political party supporters to usher in their candidates to rallies anywhere in Nigeria. Mimicking this Christian chorus is typical of every political party, which substitutes the names of their candidates for that of Jesus (as contained in the above chorus), while the Opposition becomes «Satan» (as contained in the chorus below).
Party supporters are usually armed with hundreds of such choruses anywhere they go with their candidates for campaigns and rallies. More interesting is the fact that virtually all political candidates love to sing the chorus as an affirmative prayer, whilst calling their opponents the losers. Every candidate considers himself/herself a winner, whilst the opponents are the losers, and so when they taunt their opponents they sing the chorus in the opposite way saying: «Loser o-o-oh! — Loser! Loser o-o-oh! — Loser. Satan you don lose o-o! — Loser!!! Pata-pata you go lose for ever! — Loser». (i.e. «Satan, you have lost. Satan, you will lose completely, and you will remain a loser for ever».)
Campaigning is fun
It’s fun seeing Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and his running mate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, president and vice-presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as they go around dressed in the traditional costumes and attire of the people of any particular State where they have rallies. As the campaigns hot up for next month’s general elections, the electorate have suddenly become the politicians’ «beautiful bride». Nigeria has never had it so good as far as the organization of political campaign rallies is concerned. It’s usually fun seeing party leaders throwing dry jokes about their opponents. Every politician radiates his/her own assets as the best candidate to be elected. It’s also thrilling to see the supporting fans as they come out in their regalia and various types of uniforms, with acrobatic displays, fire works, and dancing parades with colourful banners adorned with screaming slogans such as: «Vote Obj/Atiku for progress; say no to backwardness — Vote UNPP; Vote for the winning team — Buhari/Ok-adigbo» — just to mention a few.
If any political candidate were to win on the basis of oratory prowess, proficiency and eloquence in the use of English Language, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Oju-kwu, former Biafran leader, and now presidential flag bearer for the All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) would have the ticket. Alas! Not all Nigerians are that literate. «I wonder how many of us understand all this big grammar», said a rather frustrated spectator at the recent APGA campaign rally in Ibadan, capital city of Oyo State, south-west Nigeria.
Past history
The last time Nigerians witnessed this kind of political campaigning was in 1993. That was under the military rule of General Ibrahim Babangida. There were two political parties: the National Redemption Convention (NRC), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Alhaji Barkin Tofa was the presidential candidate for the NRC, while Chief Moshood Kashimawo Osuolale Abiola was the candidate for SDP. The election campaigns culminated in the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election, which was won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola. The unjust annulment led to a breakdown of law and order for almost four months and finally, General Babangida left the scene. Then came an Interim National Government (ING), headed by Chief Shonekan, a technocrat, before General Sani Abacha took over in a palace coup later that year.
General Abacha was the most brutal military leader in the history of Nigeria. Becoming head of state, he was openly and boldly challenged by Chief M.K.O. Abiola who declared himself to be the democratically elected President. After almost three months stalemate, Chief Abiola was arrested and jailed. But Abacha died suddenly on 8 June 1998. A month later on 8 July 1998, Chief Abiola also died mysteriously when arrangements were being made for his release from detention. General Abdusalami Abubakar who later took over the helm of state, hurriedly organized an election and handed over power to a democratically elected President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on 29 May 1999. That was the genesis of the current political and democratic beauty being witnessed in Nigeria.
Seeking re-election
After four years of democratic governance, the politicians are back on the streets seeking re-election as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution. In grand style, the campaigns have brought back once again the joy of witnessing witty Nigerian politicians in action. They are here to abuse, joke and sing in derision of their opponents. They are here with funny banners, T-shirts with slogans and caps adorned with various political logos. Everyone is claiming to have more supporters than their opponents. They assemble in market squares, stadia, open fields, for their campaigns. They visit the traditional rulers and promise the poor people that their villages and cities will become paradise. They promise that their crooked roads will be straightened. All mountains will be brought down and valleys filled up. They boast that Nigerian people will have value for their lives because it would be better to remain alive in Nigeria than bothering to go to Paradise. That is the joy of democracy. Everybody has to give an account of his/her stewardship. They read their party constitutions and programs for development.
The ugly side of campaigning
The ugly side of the political campaigns however is the high rate of political assassinations in the country. Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) blew the whistle for the parties to begin their campaigns over six months ago, Nigerians have been sleeping with one eye open. Several political candidates and party financiers have been killed in circumstances that caught the national security services napping. The latest being that of Chief Marshall Harry, financier of the second largest party, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), who was killed by unknown gunmen in his home in Abuja in the presence of his family members. And earlier on, in Imo State, Chief Ogbonaiya Uche another stalwart of the ANPP and a senatorial candidate was killed by unknown assassins. His wife has now taken over to contest the senatorial seat in the State. About a year ago, the commercial centre of Onitsha in Anambra State was thrown into mourning, when the State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association and a fervent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party, was killed together with his wife in their home in Port Harcourt.
Now, all religious organizations in the country are praying for peace so the current democratic dispensation will not be scuttled on the alter of violence. May God help Nigeria at this moment of history.