By Abdullah Dan’azumi Golkos
The ultimate function of democracy is to give expression to the views and ideas of the majority and to protect the minority against the excesses of the majority and guarantee its rights and privileges under the Constitution. This is the major distinguishing feature between it and other political systems that are not only intolerant of opposition but go to all extent to annihilate it without regard to their constitutional rights and privileges.
Under Democratic dispensations, the voters have the final say. Parties can develop their internal processes for selecting their candidates based on the provisions of the Constitution, present the Manifestos of the Party to the electorates who may decide to accept or reject.
The recent cry and warning by an association against the presumed presentation of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by a candidate said to be making consultations to that effect is putting the cart before the horse.
While the Political terrain of Nigeria is sentive to its heterogeneous composition, it should rather made us more democratic in such a way as to be accommadating rather than being timid and paranoid. We should be pragmatic in such a way as to give the voters a final say on any candidate. Whoever feels confident and comfortable to present himself to the voters based on a particular calculation should be free to do so. Let those opposed to his ideas be free to take to the field to campaign against him and let the voters determine his fate.
Is it democratic to deny somebody his right to contest because of his faith or forced him to abandon his Political beliefs? For how long can we continue to be afraid of our shadows that even the religions we professed are are not allowed to appear our public profiles? Are we afraid that the majority may take advantage of it in a winner takes all to impose its will on the minority?
The Nigerian Constitution Provides for the freedom of worship in such a way that it is sometimes abused. No leader has ever taken any steps to curb religious freedom in Nigeria unless it has degenerated to such an extent as to constitute a danger to the public. Despite the paranoia about religion in Nigeria and its Politisation, the worst scenario has never and will never happen. That is the use of the instruments of state to impose a particular religion on Nigeria. In 1979 Chief Obafemi Awolowo the Presidential candidate of the Unity Party Of Nigeria picked Chief Philip Umeadi, an Igbo from Southeast and a Christian as his running mate based on his Political calculations. While he performed credibly at the polls to come second, he lost the Presidential elections not on the basis of his Political calculations but rather to Legal technicalities at the Court.
There were wild allegations of attempts to Islamise Nigeria in Nineteen Nineties when it applied to join the Organisation Of Islamic Countries(OIC). Years after, there is nothing of the sort, rather, the ethno religious crisis affecting the country can be traced ecological challenges and social disparity in which both the causes, the beneficiaries and the victims cut across all religious groups.
One of the major reasons for the rejection of President Buhari at the polls in some parts of the country was the alleged Islamisation agenda. With less than two years to go, we can accuse him of failure in many sectors but not on an attempt at Islamisation which is virtually non manifest.
When the late MKO Abiola decided to contest on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the other candidate contested on a joint Muslim- Christian ticket. The electorates gave their verdict.
The truth is, religion is not seen across board as the same thing among the various components of the country.
Religion should be seen for what it is: A moral compass for the guidance of the society and a spiritual provisionl for achieving an everlasting life in the hereafter which is the consensus between the Abrahamnic religions.
Religion as a way of life will continue to eternity and no mortal will ever vanquish it. The story of Moses and the Pharoah told in the triple books of the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims is a reminder that just as it was not possible then, so shall it never be possible.
We should allow Democracy to determine what is acceptable to us politically and what is not. We cannot continue to freeze our Political development through paranoia. President Obasanjo was pragmatic enough and realising the provisions of the Constitution with regard to religion, allow the proponents of the Sharia to have their way albeit at a huge cost as proponents and opponents manipulate it for Political gain. The Sharia has run its course and its spirit has been exorcised never to stalk the nations Political discourse again. Let those who wants to try with Muslim- Muslim tickets be allowed to do so. Let democracy decide our preferences and choices. Let all come with their Merchandise, the electorate will decide. We should not allow ourselves to be haunted by the ghost of a Muslim-Muslim ticket. We should allow it runs it course and exorcise its Spirit. Moreover, there will be a Convention before the Primaries to select a Presidential candidate. And in Politics, Twenty Four hours is a long time.
Abdullah Dan’azumi Golkos is the CEO Salasadiscourse Pol Consults
