By Adebayo Raphael<\/p>\n
Different types of governments have come and gone in the history of
\nmankind and nations the world over. During these times, when the chips
\nwere down, visionary leaders and exceptional members of the body politic
\nhave risen to the occasion to recall mankind and nations from the path of
\nimpending doom.<\/p>\n
I am inclined to think, that at this point in our national history,
\nmajority of the citizens are aware of the inhumane social, economic and
\npolitical realities under which we all are presently grappling to live.
\nAccording to statistics, 91.16million Nigerians are now living in extreme
\npoverty and six people are falling into poverty every minute. This alone
\nis indicative of a nation on the verge of catastrophic doom. Even worse,
\nseveral thousands of Nigerians have lost their lives to terrorism across
\nthe country, just as several millions have been displaced as a result.<\/p>\n
In addition to these, child mortality rate is worsening, under-five deaths
\nare growing worrisomely, democratic institutions are crumbling, records of
\nhuman rights abuses are rapidly growing, clampdowns on free speech and
\npress freedom have become the order of the day. These are dangerous signs
\nof imminent doom.<\/p>\n
In times past, when great nations were threatened with Nigeria\u2019s present
\nunlivable realities, they were either rescued by exceptional leaders or by
\nthe peoples of those nations. Although progress and prosperity is often
\neverlasting with the latter and transient with the former, inclusive
\ngrowth and widespread prosperity are often achieved when both work
\ntogether conscientiously.<\/p>\n
This time, Nigeria, too, has reached her turning point. And, it is of
\nutmost importance that we the people collectively agree to reorder our
\nsteps, review our past, and embrace a national vision for the future, and
\nmore importantly, embrace the general will (the will of people combined)
\nas against the private will; for it is clear, that Nigeria is presently
\nentrapped\u00a0 in the snares of elite-conspiracy and the selfish will of the
\nfew; and for her to burgeon, this must change.<\/p>\n
Again and again, it has been proven that when nations advance the general
\nwill in their odyssey of nation-building, there is often an unprecedented
\nwave of a cohesive and long-lasting progress and prosperity. And as the
\nsaying goes; it is better to walk in company than in solitary.<\/p>\n
In less than 24hours, Nigerians will stroll to the polls to decide the
\nfate of our dear nation for another four years. This act of civic
\nresponsibility is not as crucial as the motive driving it. For when the
\nmotive is wrong a favorable result cannot be guaranteed. When the means is
\ndefective the end cannot be rosy. In fine, we need to ask ourselves; Are
\nwe pleased with the administration of the present leadership? Can we trust
\nthem with the future of our nation? For often times, we are dangerously
\ncaught in the urgency of the now that we forget the coming times.<\/p>\n
It must be established, that the onus of achieving an auspicious future
\nand a prosperous nation that works for the good of all starts with the
\npeople; before their representatives. This is so because in a democracy,
\nthe will of the government, which is transient and subordinate, is derived
\nfrom and answerable to the will of the people, which stands supreme to the
\nwill of the government. Bearing this in mind makes the role of the people
\nclearer as we go to the polls. Elections should never be about reinforcing
\nfailure.<\/p>\n
The poverty that we see today, the hopelessness populating the atmosphere,
\nthe insecurity and starvation, the darkness and backwardness, the
\njoblessness and the rest – they all can go away with a single decision: a
\nclearly defined terms of agreement between we the people and those seeking
\nour votes. It is called a Social Contract.<\/p>\n
With this social contract, we the people can confidently choose a leader
\nwho will represent our collective will and at the same time strengthen our
\nownership of the democratic process and deepen democratic accountability
\nin process of time. With this social contract, we can easily separate the
\nwheat from the chaff and the charlatans from the bonafides. With this
\nsocial contract, we can agree on what those seeking our votes will do for
\nus and what we will do in return. With this social contract, we can easily
\npay our taxes knowing that they will be used to ameliorate our living
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
With this social contract, voters\u2019 confidence and public will to demand
\naccountability is a certitude. And, unlike the infamous vote-buying that
\ncomes with the trappings of ephemeral gains during elections, albeit for a
\nfew; the social compact promises a long-lasting gain – in education,
\ninfrastructure, security, vibrant economy, and so on – for the collective.<\/p>\n
The very beginning of a reformed democratic process is the decision of the
\nenlightened body politic to engender accountable democracy through the
\nownership of the democratic process. This ownership is guaranteed when you
\nemploy the strategy of a social contract. It is simple logic; you cannot
\ninfluence what you have zero stake in.<\/p>\n
Adebayo Raphael is the National Secretary of the OurMumuDonDo Movement. He
\nwrites from Abuja and can be reached on Twitter via @Asorosobioro.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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