Mr. Onanuga: There is No Word “Must” in the Dictionary of Democracy
By Abbati Bako,psc,bsis,
Political Strategy and Communication Consultant, alumnus Kent University, the UK’s European University
Bayo Onanuga, spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared that the President “must finish his two terms” before vacating Aso Rock, meaning that His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will sit in the Villa until 2031.
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, with due respect Sir, you must have misplaced your dictionary:
1. “Must” is the Language of Monarchs, Not Mandates of Nigeria’s voters:
Democracy knows no such word. In a republic, the only must belongs to the people. A President must obey the Constitution. A President must face the ballot. A President must leave when the people say so. But no President must rule for eight years (2,920).
Check the dictionary of democracy from Athens to Abuja. You will find vote mandate accountability, tenure. You will not find a must. That word belongs to kings, emperors, and life presidents. It belongs to Louis XIV’s “L’État, c’est moi.” It does not belong to Aso Rock in Abuja or anywhere democracy under practice.
2. The World’s Oldest Democracy Disagrees With You:
In 230 years, America has had 47 Presidents. Not one was “guaranteed” two terms. George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Joe Biden, Donald Trump all served one term because voters said so. Although Donald Trump was reelected once again for another term. Gerald Ford never won one. The ballot, not the bootlicker, decides.
And Mr. Onanuga here’s a small correction:
all 47 US Presidents have been from North America because the United States is in North America. “South America” has never produced a US President because it is not a US state. Because the principle stands no region owns the Presidency. Pennsylvania doesn’t “own” two terms. Neither does Lagos.
3. Nigeria’s Democracy is Not Inheritance:
Democracy is not about region, religion, or tribe. It is not “our turn” etched in stone. It is the people’s turn, every four years. The power of the vote is not a chieftaincy title. It is a tenancy agreement renewable only by performance within 4 years (1460 days) revocable by the landlord: the Nigerian people, no more no less, period!
When you say Tinubu must serve two terms, you insult about 240 million Nigerians. You reduce the ballot to a rubber stamp. You tell the youth in Kano, the trader in Aba, the farmer in Benue that their PVC is decorative. That is how democracies die not with a coup, but with a must.
4. The Only “Must” That Matters:
Mr. Onanuga, here is the must you should preach:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must deliver security. Tinubu must control inflation. Tinubu must submit to free and fair elections in 2027. This is the only way Nigeria’s democracy will prosper, transition to persist and then democratic system will make Nigeria great.
If he does, the people may renew his tenancy. If he does not, no spokesman, no structure, no “it’s our turn” slogan will save him. This is democratic system for you in the world of today and possibly in the future. The word “must” is not in the dictionary of democratic system. But the word vote is and it’s written in bold. Hence, the Nigerians will say yes or no. This is democracy for you.
Pull-quotes for social media:
1. “Must” belongs to monarchs. Democracy belongs to the people.
2. Aso Rock is not a throne. 2031 is not a birthright. 2027 is a ballot.
3. No spokesman can override more than 93 million PVCs with one word: “must”.
Abbati Bako, abbatibako@gmail.com
Researcher in Globalization Policy @Skyline Un. And Political Strategy Analyst
