Weekly Trust (Kaduna)
Isyaku Dikko
13 December 2002
analysis
The 28 registered political parties fall short of the minimum number of parties required in Nigeria. In the First Republic when Nigeria's population was less than 50 million people, there were eighty one (81) political parties in addition to many independent candidates. And to date, the failure of the Republic has not been attributed to political parties.
Interestingly, the restriction of parties to five in the Second Republic, two in the transition programme of General Ibrahim Babangida and five under General Sani Abacha's regime could not save democracy. Neither have the three earlier parties under President Olusegun Obasanjo's government of the Third Republic improved the practice of democracy in the country. In fact, they have been a threat to democracy because for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the chairman of the ruling party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbe said that what we call the ruling party is not a party but a rally. The question is: What is the basis of restricting political parties in Nigeria?
The political engineering of the military, an institution built and sustained on authoritarianism, has destroyed the democratic culture of the First Republic to the extent that some political activists perceive restriction of parties as normal. I was shocked when I heard one of the leaders of the newly registered 22 political parties complaining over the BBC that the increase of parties to 28 is childish (Wasan yara ne). And he is one of those we rely on to mid-wife democracy in the country. The tragedy of Nigeria is that her intellectuals are political "bench-warmers" in their country.
Equally laughable is that many of the politicians whose parties are recently registered are surprised or even embarrassed because they do not know what to do with the new parties. They are also not ready to leave the first three parties registered (PDP, ANPP, AD) where their chances of winning election are higher.
Restriction of parties has no basis in theory or practice. The essence of democracy is freedom and the right to choose among many alternatives. If anything, restriction of parties leads to political tension by forcing irreconcilable groups and individuals to co-exist in rainbow political parties.
There is nothing unique about politics in Nigeria because countries with more population and worse political crisis than Nigeria do not restrict parties as we do. Our problem is that we are not ready to learn, and we are always looking for a shortcut.
India is a good example for Nigeria. The conflicts between Sikh, Hindus and Muslims have been persistent since the creation of the country to the extent that two countries (Pakistan and Bangladesh) were created out of India, unlike Nigeria where despite the religious and ethnic cleavages, the country has remained one. And there is no restriction of parties in India as this report reveals:
"Election in India involves 600 million (six hundred million) voters, 800 (eight hundred thousand polling stations) and 25 million (twenty five million) ballot boxes. There are forty-two main political parties at national and state level and another six hundred and twenty (620) minor parties. In some cases up to forty-one (41) candidates including independents (emphasis mine) have been known to contest elections in a single constituency. Election results are announced at the constituency by local returning officers supported by party agents."
India is not alone; General election in war-torn Yugoslavia on 5th September 2002 witnessed 50 parties. In Sierra Leone, 23 parties contested the general elections of May 2002. Since its creation in 1948, Israel has never known peace, yet, it has 36 parties. There are 43 political parties in the violence-prone South Africa. With just a population of 9.5 million, Senegal has 40 parties. Despite the recent creation of a new country (East Timor) out of Indonesia, after protracted bloodshed, Indonesia has 48 parties. In fact, as far back as 1937 there was a Muslim party in India (Muslim League) and its experience is quite interesting.
"In the elections of 1937 to the legislative assemblies of the 11 provinces of British India, held under arrangements stipulated in the government of India Act of 1935, the League as has been noted, was able to capture only 109 of the 482 Muslim seats, and it did not win a majority of the votes even in the four Muslim-majority provinces. During the next eight years, however, its political fortunes and strength markedly improved, as was demonstrated conclusively in the elections in 1945 and 1946 to a central legislature and to provincial assembles. The League won all of the 30 Muslim seats in the central legislature, and 48 per cent of the Muslim seats in the provincial assemblies. It was able to form ministers in two provinces, Bengal and Sind, and its claims to be the voice of the majority of Indian Muslims could no longer be ignored or discounted."
Rather than calling for the ban of the Muslim party, the secular politicians formed a coalition party (United Front) to challenge the Muslim League:
"For the United Front, formed mainly by an agreement between Fazlul Huq's new political group, the KSP, and the Awami League, scored an amazing electoral victory (in the 1954 elections) and the once dominant Muslim League was virtually wiped out - forever, as later became apparent - in East Pakistan. The United Front won 223 of the 237 Muslim seats, whereas the Muslim League won only 10. The United Front also won 10 of the non-Muslim seats, and the Muslim League none."
For the avoidance of doubt, multi-party system is anchored on four values. First, there should be as many parties as people want so that nobody or ideology is suffocated in a rainbow coalition party. Second, parties must not be interested in all political offices or contest all elections. They must also not be national. There is nothing wrong if a party is only interested in ward elections. Third, parties are free to go into alliances. Four, people are free to wind up their parties whenever they want to, and bounce back at their convenience.
We should learn a lesson from the French Socialist Party, which won Paris metropolis election in 2001 after 130 (one hundred and thirty) years of struggle. The essence of multi-party is: let the eagle perch, let the egret perch.
Some political parties of the First Republic
Action Group, Afenmai Peoples' Congress, Awo National Brigade, Bornu Youth Movement, Calabar Emancipation League, Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers State Movement, Common People's Party of Nigeria, Communist Party of Nigeria, Democratic Party of Nigeria.
Dynamic Party, Eastern Nigeria Liberation Movement, Eastern Peoples Congress, Ghana-Nigerian Socialist Group, Habe People's Party, Ibadan Crusaders of Freedom, Ijumu Progressive Union.
Ilorin Talaka Parapo, Kalabari Peoples Congress, Kano People's Party, Kano State Movement, Lagos Citizens Rights Protection Council, Lagos and Colony Peoples' Congress, Lagos Separate State Movement, League of Northern Yorubas, Mabolaji Party.
Middle Belt Congress of Nigeria, Middle Belt People's Party; Mid-West Democratic Front, Mid-West Youth Association, Moslem People's Party, Movement for Colonial Freedom, Muslim United Party, National Convention of Nigerian Citizens, National Emancipation League.
National Youth Council of Nigeria, National Youth Front, Niger Delta Congress, Niger Delta Volunteer Service, Nigerian Communist Party, Nigerian Council for Peace, Nigerian Labour Party, Nigerian Marxist Group in Germany (GDR), Nigerian National Alliance.
Nigerian National Democratic Party, Nigerian National Youth Brigade, Nigerian People's Party-The New Nigeria, Nigerian Socialist Group, Nigerian Workers Liberation Movement, Nigerian Youth Congress, Northern Elements Freedom Organisation, Northern Elements Progressive Union, Northern Elements Women's Association.
Northern Opposition United Party, Northern People's Congress, Northern People's Congress Youth Association, Northern Progressive Front, Northern United Party, Northern Youth Movement, Okpara Youth Brigade, Oshun United Party.
Oyo United Party, People's Front, People's Progressive front, Republican Party, Rivers State Movement, Socialist Labour Party, Socialist Movement of Nigeria, Socialist Party of Nigeria, Socialist Workers and Farmers Party, Socialist Youths of Nigeria.
Tarka Youth Pioneers, Tiv State Party, United Action Committee, United Middle Belt Congress, United National Independence Party, United Action Committee, United Middle Belt Congress, United National Independence Party, Alliance Youth Front, United Progressive Grand Peoples Party, United Progressive Grand Alliance, United Working People's Party of Nigeria, Zikist Movement, Zikist National Vanguard.
Source: John Paden, Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto P. 682.
NB
Civil servants are now free to register with any political party of their choice and participate actively in politics. They are only to resign from their posts if they are contesting an election for a public office. This is based on the Supreme Court ruling on the suit filed by Chief Gani Gawehinmi, Challenging the INEC guidelines for the registration of political parties. The court granted relief No. 11 as demanded by the plaintiff thus: "a declaration that guideline No 5 (b) contained in the 1st defendants guidelines for the registration of political parties dated the 15th day of May 2002 issued by the 1st defendant, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but released to the public on the 17th day of May 2002 which prescribes that "a person shall not be eligible to be registered as a member of political association seeking to be registered as a political party if he/she is in the civil service of the federation or of a state is unconstitutional and therefore null and void."
Only constitutional ammendment can deny civil servants their rights to register with any part of their choice as ruled by the Supreme Court.
Dikko, a former Ag. Editor of Weekly Trust, contributed this piece from Kaduna
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