The APC and PDP primary elections have come and gone. The delegates who were our representatives have made a choice for us by voting persons they considered fit and proper for the offices available. However, whether they have made the right choice or not, what is important in democracy is that every election contest must produce a winner and a loser.


Historically, democracy originated in ancient Athens in 508 BCE (before the common era) or before the birth of Jesus Christ. However the system is still a process everywhere in the world. It is a work in progress. 


It is instructive to note that after more than 256 years of democracy America are yet to perfect the system because being man’s attempt to achieve perfection, which is impossible, America has so far amended its constitution 27 times in trying to perfect the system. 


Nigeria adopted parliamentary system of the British type of democracy at independence in 1960. But in an attempt to perfect our democracy, the country changed to the American system in 1979. 


In America party Exco used to elect candidates at primary elections. But in trying to perfect their democracy, America took the power of candidate nomination from party leaders to the people. This is what Nigeria tried to achieve in 2022 by resorting to delegates election in our party primaries. The system is just at its infancy, being our first trial. 


Agreed that delegate election has increased corruption and monetisation of our democracy. Today, nearly all winners of party primaries in both APC and PDP won because they outspent the losers. Yet, I will not advocate for reversal of delegate election system or return to primary elections by the Exco. We should continue with delegates. But we should reform the system. 


Part of the reform I will advocate are 3 thus - :


1. no person should become a delegate unless he/she can read and write. If we do that, every delegate must write the name of the aspirant of his/her choice on the ballot during the primary election. In that case a delegate could collect money and still vote for a person who did not give him any money. Though this did not happen in the primaries this year, believe me with time, it will.


2. we should also make party primaries a secret ballot to protect the identity of who voted for who. 


3. we should make it a criminal offence for contestants to give and for delegates to receive money from contestants before, during and after the primaries. 


It is not going to be easy to achieve. But as the Chinese say, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step”. We must resist the temptation of going back to primary elections by party Exco. We must be patient. 


I also agree that with the system of delegate election only the rich can win elections in Nigeria. But wallahi it is temporary. It may take awhile though. But we must, I repeat, resist the temptation of throwing the baby with the bath water. 


In my humble opinion, democracy is the best system of government so far because it is the only system in which the son of the poor and the son of the rich, the son of an Emir or Chief and the son of a commoner can sit on the same table in parliament and decide the affairs of their country. 


I am not bothered by the fact that the son of late Sani Abacha and the son of Sule Lamido have won Governorship tickets in PDP in Kano and Jigawa state respectively. I am also not disturbed by the fact that the son of El Rufa’i got a ticket for House of Representatives in Kaduna state. 


I am equally not bothered that the son of late Ajimobi, the daughter of James Ibori and the son of Abdullahi Ganduje got a ticket, nor am I bothered that the daughter of Ifeanyi Okowa, son of Alao Akala and the son of Fayoshe secured tickets.


I am not bothered because in the olden days our traditional rulers circulated themselves with their sons. At that time,  you can’t be anything if you are not, by accident, born into the royal family. It was the same thing when the military were in power. They circulated themselves. Today Judges and Justices of courts circulate themselves too. That’s life even in Saudi Arabia, America and Britain. 


Alhough it is self evident that all men are created equal, we cannot be equal in our trajectory through life because of so many factors. But since in democracy, especially where it is effective, opportunities are continuously made equal, no matter it’s imperfections, democracy allows every citizen to have a stake and participate in deciding their future and their nation's priorities. Other forms of governments like authoritarian, monarchical and dictatorship do not involve people in decision making process of development.


Let the sons and daughters of the former governors win the primary elections. If they win by buying votes, ‘wallahi in mukayi hakuri zasu gane kurensu’ during the general elections. In talakawa basu waye yau ba, zasu waye sannu a hankali. 


Democracy has safety valves. It has self cleansing mechanism embedded in it. In akayi hakuri, sannu a hankali talaka zai gane meaning of what Osinbajo said yesterday in the Eagle Square that- 


“When you vote tonight, know that your vote carries the answer to your prayers”.


Time shall tell.