‘For the People, by the People’

For decades, Nigerian citizens have been denied the opportunity to contribute to shaping the laws and policies they are governed by. The notion that political engagement is the preserve of the elite has eroded public trust in democratic structures. In order for this trust to be restored, this author argues, the innate power of civic society to shape the political destiny of the nation needs to be re-emphasized.

Written by Dafe Oputu

Oct 23, 2022

Graphics by Onyinye Dike for The Republic

Not long after the disappointing failure to achieve Vision 2020, we are back to speculating about Nigeria’s future. The COVID-19 pandemic, worsening climate crisis, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the effects of all three on global supply chains, have underscored just how quickly the world can change. Meanwhile, the legacy of the #EndSARS protests, the end of presidential zoning, and the arrival of new political forces make the road to 2023 elections especially unpredictable. It is not surprising that such an uncertain time has people wondering what the future holds for Nigeria.

Imagine Nigeria, a report put together by the federal government of Nigeria and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), attempts to chart a course for the uncertain journey ahead. Amongst the report’s key insights is the importance of public trust in governance structures in Nigeria. Unfortunately, decades of deceit and doublespeak from politicians and elected officials means that building this kind of trust will be an uphill task. What would it take to get the average Nigerian invested and engaged in Nigerian politics? The answer might be to give us politics that are worth getting engaged in; politics that resonate with the big questions on our minds in these uncertain times.

Nigerian politics have never been a dull affair. The escapades and antics of politicians is a source of public entertainment, if not amusement. Sadly, these antics also distract from issue-based politics. Public service administration and politics ought to be about ideas, but Nigerian politics have long suffered from a dearth of ideas, let alone strategic and actionable plans. The evidence of the vacuous nature of political campaigns in Nigeria is seen in party manifestos, where parties rarely present distinct policies to set them apart from their competitors. The Nigerian citizen is cheated of the opportunity to debate core political questions like ‘what kind of society do we want?’, ‘how do we get there?’, and ‘who gets a say?’. Instead, every four years, we get personal popularity contests, ethnic bigotry, and empty rhetoric. Why does it work this way, and what are the consequences for governance and engagement?

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About the Author

Dafe Oputu

is a sub-editor at The Republic and PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto’s Department of Political Science, where he studies democratic governance and urban development in Africa.

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‘For the People, by the People’