By Charles Edet Esq., FCR
Nigeria must understand that democracy can die without soldiers overthrowing a government. It begins to suffocate when political intolerance, provocative hatred, vituperative attacks, institutional partisanship and abuse of governmental power replace legitimate democratic competition.
Hate speech, campaigns of calumny, and vicious attacks on President Tinubu are provocative, yet he remains tolerant, discharging his duty as a responsible leader.
On the other hand, opposition parties must be allowed to campaign, organise lawful rallies, use legitimately available public spaces and engage Nigerians without discriminatory bottlenecks, intimidation or politically motivated obstruction. Security agencies belong to Nigeria, not to the ruling party or opposition, and must never become instruments for manipulating political competition.
Likewise, opposition must criticise vigorously without converting democratic dissent into hatred, incitement or destructive personal warfare.
Opposition to divine and mortal leadership has existed from the cradle; therefore, everyone in an enviable position should be ready to face the heat in the kitchen and find a way to douse it.
Why should an incumbent fear legitimate opposition engagement? Let every candidate speak; incumbency is not easy to be shoved aside. Opposition in America failed to win President Clinton and Obama; they completed their constitutional 8-year tenure; that’s history today.
Therefore, let the records of the ruling party confront the opposition on the fulfilment of its promises. Ultimately, let Nigerians decide through the ballot.
Nigeria’s democracy is still young compared with democracies refined through generations of institutional development. We cannot attain democratic civilisation overnight, particularly while technological, economic and institutional weaknesses persist. Our political energies should therefore build rather than fracture the nation.
The Nigerian media must also reject partisan journalism; Minister for Aviation, Keyamo SAN, sounded it loud when he condemned the blockage of Peter Obi from visiting Benue and lamented over the inflammatory reports in the media, highlighting that
Balance, verification and fairness are indispensable.
Every Nigerian should bear in mind that Power is ephemeral at every level of life; it is contagiously temporary while Nigeria is permanent. When impunity overwhelms tolerance and institutions become political weapons, democracy begins its dangerous descent into anarchy.
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