By Abbati Bako, Alumni-Kent-University, United Kingdom, The UK’s European University
As I reflect on the state of politics in Kano, my heart bleeds. The rivalry between the two major political parties has descended into chaos, leaving me aghast. This is not the politics of the people, by the people, and for the people, as envisioned by George Washington. Instead, it’s a spectacle of derogatory words and personal attacks, a far cry from the principles of constitutional democracy.
*So, what is politics, really?
According to experts in political science, politics encompasses the activities associated with making decisions in groups, exercising power relations, and distributing resources. It’s about finding solutions that benefit everyone, not just a selected few. The work of the citizens in constitutional democracy is to elect their leaders and the work of the leaders is to do what the citizens want pure and simple!
In Kano, however, politics has devolved into a primitive game of power and personal gain. The focus has shifted from serving the people to serving individual interests. This is not the politics we deserve. As a concerned citizen, I urge our leaders to reflect on their actions and the impact they have on our state. Let us reclaim politics as a noble pursuit, one that prioritizes the well-being of all people, not just a privileged few. Only then can we truly say that politics serves the people, by the people, and for the people.
Nigerian democracy is almost exactly like that of the United States of America. Meaning that, both countries practice “Liberal Democracy” or ordinarily call Presidential System of Government.
*The United States of America for example:
In The United States Constitution, the five aims of the government are to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare of the citizens.
There is actually a sixth function of government outlined by their Constitution that asserts the government will secure the blessings of liberty to its citizens and future generations.
One of the first functions of government is to form a more perfect union, meaning that the government will treat all states in the union fairly and work to keep the union together. Another function of the government is to establish justice by protecting those that follow the laws of the country and by punishing those that do not.
The government also functions to ensure domestic tranquility. This function is meant to task the government with ensuring that its citizens can enjoy a calm, happy life “in a godlike and dignified manner.” The fourth function of the government is to provide for the common defense, making sure that all life in the country is defended from warring nations or domestic threats. The government must also provide for the common welfare of the nation, ensuring that all citizens are given the opportunity to have productive lives with an acceptable standard of living. There is also a sixth function outlined in the preamble, where the government must defend the ideas of liberty for all who live in and will be born in the U.S. in future generations.
There can be many different functions of government besides the conventional idea that governments should defend the country, the citizens, liberty and property. These are the meanings or functions of the government in any democratic system.
This writing hereby wishes to call the attention of the current leaders not only in Kano State but the entire Nigeria to try to cleanse the current hard earned democratic system that has been in existence for the past 25 years. Hence, the future generations will know and understand the meaning of political activities or the meaning of political governance. Otherwise, the future generations will blame the current leaders for not doing the right thing.
Abbati Bako, political strategy consultant and global political analyst @email: abbatibako@gmail.com
