THE FALL OF THABO MBEKI: A CUE FOR NIGERIAN DEMOCRACY

By: Na-Allah Mohammed Zagga

The late American President, Woodrow Wilson, repeatedly spoke of the need to make the world safe for democracy. Although he made this statement in the 1030s, his words remain ever relevant in the context of Africa’s struggle to rid itself of dictators who wear democratic skin. Dictatorship breeds arrogance, intolerance and a sense of indispensability and these tendencies have frequently undermined the growth of African democracy.

Charles Montesquieu, the French liberal philosopher who originated the concept of separation of powers, warned that excessive concentration of power in the hands of one person, body of persons or institution breeds tyranny. And his history is abound with examples of how power tempts men to destroy even those that laboured for their rise to office.

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The forced resignation of the former South African President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, has once again opened fresh debates about the imperative of strengthening African democratic institutions to stand up to dictators. Thabo Mbeki shares a lot in common with former President Obasanjo of Nigeria.

For example, he found it difficult to come to terms with the political popularity and influence of his former Vice President, Mr. Jacob Zuma who he sacked in 2005 over allegations linking Zuma’s financial adviser to bribery. Despite Zuma’s sacking, his influence never diminished; to the contrary, he re-launched himself and became the President of the African National Congress (ANC), which effectively put him in the position to succeed Thabo Mbeki in the 2009 election.

Zuma’s emergence as ANC leader didn’t go down well with Mbeki despite the fact that his former Deputy was democratically elected. Therefore, Mr. Mbeki launched fresh legal offensive against Mr. Zuma to ensure his former Deputy does not succeed him in 2009. In the latest fresh corruption trial, the Judge dismissed the case against Zuma, saying there was direct political interference in the investigation by Mr. Mbeki and his agents.

Instantly, the Judge’s declaration shook the credibility of Mbeki in his frenzied determination to get rid of Mr. Zuma. Previously, Mbeki attempted to link former ANC Secretary General, Cyril Ramaphosa and two former provincial ministers, Tokyo Sexwale and Mathews Phosa to an alleged plot to overthrow his government.

All the three gentlemen are respected public figures in South Africa and Mbeki’s attempt to get rid of perceived enemies to achieve maximum power was the beginning of deep division with the African National Congress (ANC). Hiding behind his so-called moral motivation to get rid of Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki over-reached himself, creating more enemies than friends within the ruling party, which ultimately cost him his covetous job.

In Nigeria, former President Olusegun Obasanjo exhibited the same tendency of getting rid of perceived enemies, including his ex-deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. He hid behind corruption allegation against Atiku Abubakar to end his political career. But in reality, he was uncomfortable with Atiku’s political influence and the high possibility of the former vice president not endorsing his silently emerging third term ambition.

Just as Mbeki attempted to use Ministry of Justice to bring down Jacob Zuma, former President Obasanjo also deployed the entire state machinery – including the Police, SSS and the EFCC in his determined effort to blackmail Atiku out of office. Save for the courageous intervention of the Judiciary, the former Nigerian vice president would have been arbitrarily sacked from office and even jailed by Obasanjo.

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The former PDP National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh was also perceived by Obasanjo as a potential threat to his ambition to achieve unchallenged power and mould Nigerian democracy according to his whims and caprices. Poor Audu Ogbeh was forced to sign a resignation letter in the Villa at gunpoint to enable Obasanjo install his yes men as new party leaders without the rigours of democratic election.

State Governors and other party leaders, who should have formed a coalition against Obasanjo’s move to violate the PDP Constitution and internal democracy, rushed to their holes like timid rats. Without the support of these governors and party leaders, Atiku was too helpless to stop the undemocratic takeover of the PDP by Obasanjo’s men. Fear of blackmail, forced the governors to take leave of their courage of conviction.

Therefore, the political development in South Africa has rekindled the enthusiasm and hopes of Nigerians that have been struggling to rid the country of the deadly influence of dictatorship, which infected the polity under the eight years of former President Obasanjo’s rule. In fact, the African National Congress has set a standard to check the excesses of dictatorial leaders that seek maximum power for evil motives.

Just like Jacob Zuma, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was the most tormented politician at the hands of a rogue elephant that systematically destroyed the temple of the rule of law and basic democratic norms. Former President Obasanjo got away with political blackmail and intimidation because political institutions in Nigeria are either too weak or lack the extraordinary courage of ANC leaders to protect democracy against the pernicious influence of one-man dictatorship.

However, one is confident that Nigeria’s democratic institution could grow stronger with time and resist one-man dictatorship. The road may be long and arduous, but we shall get there because good must ultimately defeat evil. Courage and conviction are essential ingredients to strengthen democratic institutions. But our politicians must abandon opportunism and pursue goals that could consolidate democracy.

By: Na-Allah Mohammed Zagga

Email: mohammedzagga@yahoo.com