JEGELETIONOCRACY: THE NEW LEXICON IN NIGERIAN POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Jegelectionocracy is a new word I think necessary to be included in the lexicon of Nigerian English dictionary.

Jegelectionocracy – shall be defined as the ability of a man to conduct successful election in a politically impossible environment called Nigeria after several decades of failed attempts. That feat was made possible by Professor Attahiru Jega.

By this time last week, the air had been let loose and everyone said anything about the electoral process in Nigeria and got away with it. Jega himself was called all unprintable names imaginable yet the man remained not only apologetic, but also pleading for the nations understanding for errors gone awry. Nigerians! But only few hours ago, in fact by evening of Saturday 9th April 2011, like the spindle of a stereo set, the entire nation had reversed their opinion of the man and his commission – the (INEC) Independent Electoral Commission. None of the political gladiator gave INEC anything less than pass mark. Even the President, who days ago were defending why he didn't sack the INEC chairman, beat his chest the same evening claiming vindication for a well conducted election. But if we can miss anything, we must not miss giving kudos to the latest tactician in town! Prof Attahiru Jega is it.

The other day, I wrote about the mistakes of Obasanjo vis-à-vis the establishment in picking and choosing themselves for the leadership of Nigeria. I did mention also, that no government in Nigeria has ever conducted the business of governing in the country as if they represented anybody or having semblance of a national call. The reason is because the leadership has been a matter of click arrangements, which over time have turned themselves as establishment determining the lot of a nation.

There once was a time when elections were conducted and concluded in Nigeria and Cutlasses, Acid, petrol and Arson was the order of the day. Those days, the pople would line up at the polling boots only to be laughed at by the candidate who never campaigned yet declared winner minutes before materials got to the regional offices. The features produced what is today known as the Modakeke riots and the Wild Wild West which has continued instill fear to the electorate every election year in the South West of Nigeria. The likes of Akinomoboriowo, in old Ondo State and many families across the country cannot forget in a hurry that the fear elections is the beginning of wisdom. Times were, when, early in election morning, people woke up only to discover that the family of an opponent had been roasted by fire through unknown persons. Remember the Chris Ngige era in Anambra state and the burning of part of the Government house, the James Ibori era of stealing and stuffing of ballot boxes in Delta state, the ballot box snatching era with gun trotting brothers killing brothers in the name of political patronage, support and winning of election? Saturday 9th April 2011 put all that to rest with the accurate calculation of our magical Jega. Really at last the international communities have some exciting news to share about our country to the world. I couldn't help smiling excitedly as I watched representatives of various observing groups give their account of INEC preparedness and therefore Nigeria's excellent marks. So at last free and fair election is possible in Nigeria! What was impossible in decades, what has caused the senseless death of thousands of Nigerians across the geopolitical zones, in a jiffy became a crossed huddle! All hail Jegelectionocracy!!!

How did we get here so sudden and least expected? Across the country, expectations were the exact opposite. Yet there were still pockets of schemes coming from those who refused to acknowledge that times are changing and really very fast indeed. At the last count, INEC recorded 117 stolen ballot boxes very few schemes, arrests of even shameless serving members of National Assembly. Yes we cannot pick one hundred percent mark, but certainly, we are mile away from the norm and a clear deviation from the past.

In the Scriptures, when God wanted anything done right, He sent a Prophet in advance to herald the coming of the new event. But they always come in small packages hence Joseph, Isaiah, and David, Elijah etc, up to Our Lord Jesus Christ all came and were noticed and accepted almost at the point of their departure. Like Noah, Jega, started building his Ark immediately on appointment but no one took him seriously! Somewhere midway any way, the establishment has discovered that here again was another mistake which should be better christened “Divine Intervention”.

Nations deserve the leadership it desires. But at all time irrespective of the peoples wish, a Pharaoh always manifest to thwart processes which is the reason a people are put through unimaginable suffrage before help arrives through prayers. This is the special case of Nigeria.

God signaled His desire to settle the praying Nigerians since 1998 and put a respected leader in the person of General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) in the Nigeria Pray Team. General Gowon led Nigeria for nine years and had no house of his own at a time Nigeria was really blind and Oil rich. One of the inexplicable answers to the Nigeria Pray Group was the release of General Obasanjo whose tormentor died in mysterious circumstance. Obasanjo returned from prison without a dime, a situation he was nearer to before his arrest. He was seen as a bridge builder considering his profile and views at international foray. In matter of months, God caused the man to be cleaned up, given proper garment like Joseph in Egypt and financed to meeting world leader with whom he had related with as a member of Eminent Persons Group before his imprisonment. With his increasing personality profile, Obasanjo soon became a nominated presidential candidate for his clique and was soft landed into the Peoples Democratic Party from the back door where the likes of Dr. Alex Ekwueme held sway. He won the 1999 election in a seemingly clean slate even though his winning was challenged. He was a compromise candidate for M.K.O. Abiola (whom he said was not the messiah Nigerians needed) who had died fighting to defend his winning in election 1993 described as “Free and fair.” Nigerians watched.

The former military chief won his first election and ended his first term in office in fiasco hence he needed to convince his vice president Atiku Abubakar's Peoples' Democratic Movement (PDM) with whom he had severed relationship to win his second term party nomination. But against wise counsel, by no other than elder statesman Nelson Mandela, Obasanjo became greedy, forgot his root and headed for Naira grab in any manner conceived possible. Nigerians watched and prayed but God was at work making a way for the messiah. Though the second term was a disaster, it finally produced in error, but by choice, a none conformist in late Alhaji Umaru Yar'adua whose socialist tendencies and no nonsense leadership style was demonstrated in the application of the rule of law and admission of the fact that the election which brought him to office was faulty. Before his demise, it was already clear that his relationship with his mentor was frosty and on the brinks of collapse.

Goodluck Jonathan was clearly not the choice of Obasanjo nor that of the establishment as president. He was ignored grossly in every way like Daniel in the den of lions. It was really amazing that while we had a seating vice president, efforts were being made to sideline the constitutional provisions of the country to the advantage if negligible few. But while the scheme lasted the humble Goodluck remained quiet until the National Assembly constitutionally vested him with the power of the acting president. Again by divine intervention, the kitchen cabinet of James Ibori, Michael Andoakka, and the rest crumbled without use of force. Chief James Ibori since then has been on the run and his co-travelers have had their fair share of their dose in notoriety. Goodluck Jonathan arrived the pinnacle of political office by share providence. This naturally explains why he is usually withdrawn in times of trouble, allowing situations to resolve themselves. To calm the nerves of Nigerians politically, he told Nigerians many times over that “My ambition is not worth anybody's blood” and he meant every word of it. But even after such statement, Nigerians who over the decades had been used to believing lies as told by politicians' never gave him a chance. The now vice president candidate of CPC Pastor Tunde Bakare once said the politicians are even surprised that people believe them as they do not believe themselves.

Against all odds, GEJ moved on and determined to carve a niche for himself. Smoothly, he eased off the shylock petrol dealers who reined havoc every festive season in Nigeria. Gradually he is sending the Asian tigers back after supplying the nation with darkness in the name of over priced electric generators. Finally he introduced Jega known mostly in the academia as a man of integrity, but little known in the political arena. Now, we have a balancing act.

As I write, the election results have confirmed the worse fear of the establishment. What with the failure of Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo and other mighty but in actual sense feather weight politician. The more easy statement today is that power has left the establishment. I can also say that the next National and state assemblies are already foreseen to be vibrant. To say the least, it will not be business as usual. In Delta state, Ibori dynasty is fading away. At Ogun state, Obasanjo's fame is tinning down. One advise though, the president would need a natural mixer as the National Assembly promises to be a hall with strange bed fellows. But we still have more elections to prove our point.

Professor Attahiru Jega, history is being made through you in Nigeria today. Your name is about to be written in gold. And finally it will be said soon that our nascent democracy was led to its destination through one man ATTAHIRU JEGA and Democracy will truly be seen here as: Government of the People, for the People and by the People. Fellow Nigerians, INEC has done her bit. Let's all come out and vote in the remaining elections and confirm true representation come May 29, 2011.

Mike O. Akpati writes from Port Harcourt
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