POLITICAL OBLIGATION AND DEMOCRATIZATION Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere, OON Text of Lecture Delivered at the Workshop on Political Obligations/Social Contract for Local Government Political Officers in Cross River State, Calabar, April 21st, 2008
It is indeed a pleasure to be amongst you here today. Let me congratulate you all on your election as chairmen of your respective local governments. I know what it means to win the ticket, go into elections, win and retain the victory in our dear nation. My prayer is that you will all keep your covenant with your people so that your names would be written in gold in the history books and minds of our people. My brief remarks will be focused on “Political Obligation and Democratization.” Our goal will be to highlight the linkage between political obligation and the deepening, widening and sustenance of democratic practice, thus making democratization part of our political discourse and practice. First, what is political obligation? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Calabar, Chairmen, Cross River State, Democratic Practice, Democratization, History Books, Legal Liability, Legal Obligation, Legal Persons, Local Governments, Moral Obligation, Moral Obligations, Political Discourse, Political Obligation, Professional Career, Public Condemnation, Rational Beings, Social Contract, Sustenance, Universal Norm
Ethnic Reconciliation by Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere, OON
Paper delivered at the Policy and Programme Retreat 2007, Organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State Chapter, Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State, February 2007. I thank the Delta State Chapter of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for inviting me to deliver this paper on “Ethnic Reconciliation” at this very important retreat. Ethnic issues and ethnic politics have become critical variables in our political and other calculations in the last five decades or more. All over the world, unbelievable actions are being taken within and amongst ethnic constituencies. In some cases, genocides and unprecedented massacres have taken place in the name of ethnic conflict and ethnic politics. The mismanagement of culture, identity and difference has become an excuse for promoting criminal politics, intolerance, disregard for constitutional provisions and the rights and liberties of others, especially minorities. What is most unfortunate is that at times governments and political elites tend to overlook the signs of deterioration in ethnic relations until it is too late. In other cases, ethnic issues are taken for granted, especially by majority groups. In this instance, they underrate or overlook the process of mobilisation, strategisation, and preparedness for confrontation until it occurs. The issue, therefore, is how a government, political party, and political elite effectively responds to ethnic issues, ethnic politics, and ethnic positioning to ensure inclusion, harmony, peace, tolerance, social justice, and the full participation of all in society. This is not an impossible task if elites and decision-makers are committed, and if democratic constitutions, values and practices are strong. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Constitutional Provisions, Constitutions, Criminal Politics, Critical Variables, Decision Makers, Delta State, Ethnic Conflict, Ethnic Group, Ethnic Issues, Ethnic Politics, Ethnic Reconciliation, Ethnic Relations, Genocides, Grand Hotel Asaba, Harmony Peace, Impossible Task, Massacres, Mismanagement, Political Elite, Political Elites
Constitutionalism and the National Question in Nigeria
Julius O. Ihonvbere
The number one political contradiction or challenge in Africa today is how to deal with the national question. The continent’s history and the contradictions and engagements of the post-colonial era have precipitated deep political fault lines and congealed interests on both side of the political divide. Put simply: on the one hand are those that are benefiting from the current status quo and see no reason for change. To this group, the “problems” of politics, economy and society would resolve themselves or be resolved with time. On the other hand are those that feel that the African past had been squandered, the present mortgaged and the future so uncertain that politics could no longer be taken for granted. Consequently, they have demanded a re-negotiation and recompacting of relations between the power elite and the people. This time, they are demanding to be fully involved in the process of remaking the constitution in order to ensure that those issues that affect them and their communities are not trivialized or relegated to the dustbin of political decision making.
This article advances one argument: in order to address the national question in Nigeria, the political elite can no longer be trusted to do the right thing. To safeguard even its own narrow interests, the power elite must concede to an open and popular recompacting of the constitution. Only a truly consultative and participatory process can put the national question up for democratic debate and negotiation without resort to violence. Such a consultative process could be utilized to mobilize and educate the people politically, establish new rules of politics, reconstruct institutions, and redefine the foundations of governance. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Africa Today, Constitutionalism, Continent, Contradiction, Contradictions, Democratic Debate, Do The Right Thing, Dustbin, Economy And Society, Engagements, Foundations, Narrow Interests, National Question, Negotiation, Political Decision, Political Elite, Political Fault Lines, Power Elite, Privatization, Suffocation
The Nigerian State as Obstacle to Federalism: Towards a New Constitutional Compact for Democratic Politics
“Under a true federal constitution, each group, however small, is entitled to the same treatment as any other group, however large. Opportunity must be afforded to each to evolve its own peculiar political institution. The present structure reinforces indigenous colonialism- a crude, harsh, unscientific and illogical system”. - Obafemi Awolowo.
“If we continue to operate a very defective system, this country would face very serious danger of survival because this constitution cannot sustain this country”. -Lateef Adegbite.
Most of the recent discussions on political restructuring in Nigeria have been isolated from a serious and holistic attention to the character of the Nigerian state. This compartmentalized approach has culminated in rather limited, even ahistorical interpretations, analysis, conclusions, and projections. In this chapter, we seek to argue that the nature, character and politics of the Nigerian state as presently constituted mediates possibilities for democracy and the required political engineering for true federalism. The continuing crisis of power and governance, the inability to construct hegemony or a national project, and deepening socio-economic crisis are all precipitates of state failure even state exhaustion in certain spheres. While there have been critical tendencies, coalitions and counter-coalitions within the state and the constituencies of the political elite, the fundamental and structural character of the state as a violent, privatized, insensitive, unstable, vulnerable, and non-hegemonic force remains intact.i In the following discussion, we examine the historical origins of the state to set the context; isolate the tendencies within the country’s distinctive political economy; examine the process of defederalization and the role of the military; critique the 1999 constitution; and finally, we propose an alternative constitutional approach to political restructuring and refederalization. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Array, Awolowo, Coalitions, Colonialism, Constituencies, Critique, Democratic Politics, Economic Crisis, Exhaustion, Federal Constitution, Federalism, Hegemony, History Class, Islamic Affairs, Ken Saro, Nationhood, Nigerian Politics, Obstacle, Origins Of The State, Penguin Books, Political Economy, Political Elite, Political Institution, Precipitates, Primitive Accumulation, Serious Danger, Spheres, State Failure, Supreme Council, Tendencies
Imperialism and the Encapsulation of the Democratization Process in Africa
It is rather interesting to note the way in which debates on the current democratization projects in Africa have been domesticated, encapsulated, and redirected by Western scholarship, media, and institutions. It is no wonder that the initial enthusiasm which accompanied the so-called “opening up” processes has ebbed as the pro-democracy movements, the much maligned and beleaguered African state, scholars and activists struggle to meet the interpretations and demands of imperialism, lenders, donors, and western governments. On the one hand, such processes of ideological containment and depolitcization of grassroots movements have generated new conflicts, diversions, and weakened the people, their communities and constituencies. This has obviously set the democratic projects back substantially and strengthened the hands of the local agents of imperialism and the neo-colonial military establishments. It is no wonder that it was so easy for the military under the reactionary leadership of General Sani Abacha to seize power in Nigeria and has succeeded in actually consolidating his grip on power. On the other level, the encapsulation of political change in Africa has strengthened the hands of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the US and other Western governments in determining the context and content of political alignment and realignment, debates, and patterns of social mobilization and accumulation. Thus in a certain way, a steady recolonization of Africa is taking place under the guise of a so-called new world order and the push for democratization. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Accumulation, Constituencies, Containment, Democracy Movements, Democratization Process, Diversions, Encapsulation, General Sani Abacha, Guise, Imperialism, Initial Enthusiasm, International Monetary Fund, Military Establishments, New World Order, Political Alignment, Realignment, Social Mobilization, State Scholars, Western Governments, Western Scholarship
Political Violence in a fledgling democracy
Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere
Text of public lecture delivered under the auspices of THE BREEZE MAGAZINE, Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos March 14, 2003
Mr. Chairman, it is not my intention to speak for too long today. I would prefer to be brief and to leave enough time for discussions and questions. Let me also confess that I hurriedly put this lecture together in the last two hours or so. I think it does contain enough to generate some conversation. I have left out details of violence. I chose to focus on the conceptual aspects of the problem though I would use examples as necessary. I thank you for honoring me with your invitation. I commend you for your courage, vision and commitment to the truth in a society that is as decayed as ours.
Thirty seven years ago, a young, charismatic and courageous military officer declared in a coup broadcast:
Our enemies are the political profiteers, swindlers, the men in high and low places who seek bribes and demand ten percent, those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers and VIPs of waste, the tribalists, the nepotists…(Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, January 1966 Coup Broadcast.)
Ladies and gentlemen, let me ask a few questions: Are the political profiteers gone from the Nigerian society? Are the bribe takers gone? Do they demand ten percent or more today? Are those that seek to keep Nigeria permanently divided gone? Are the VIPs of waste no longer with us? What about the tribalists? Are they gone? Are they weaker in their politics? What about the nepotists? Have they been reformed? If we can answer “yes” to one of these questions, we can end the lecture right here, go home, pop some champagne and sing halleluiah because our country has been reborn. Let me put it to you all (as if you did not already know) that our country is still in big trouble. These troubles were not created by some invisible elements or by God. They were generated and nurtured by people that live amongst us; people that we all know very well. In fact, in many instances we have encouraged and protected these characters and this attitude has emboldened them to take more risks in perpetuating their dubious agenda. Today, we are all paying very dearly for the indiscipline, irresponsibility, arrogance, limited vision, wickedness and greed of this group. Unfortunately, their pathological fixation of irresponsibility, nepotism, corruption, waste, and other lucrative unproductive but not really helpful ventures have percolated to the lowest ebbs of our society to such an extent that even ordinary people now mimic the decadent elite. This is very unfortunate for a creative and hardworking people. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Airport Hotel, Auspices, Big Trouble, Bribe, Bribes, Champagne, Chukwuma, Conceptual Aspects, Courage, Enemies, Fledgling Democracy, Ikeja Lagos, Intention, Invitation, Ladies And Gentlemen, Military Officer, Mr Chairman, Political Violence, Pop Champagne, Public Lecture, Seven Years, Vips
Legislative Duties and Responsibilities in a Democracy
Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere, OON
Text of Lecture Delivered at the Workshop for Local Government Councilors in Edo State, Benin City, Nigeria, June 19, 2008.
Protocol
Allow me to begin this discussion by congratulating you all on your election as councilors and chairmen in your respective local governments. I do not need to remind anyone here as to the huge responsibilities reposed in you by the constitution and the expectations of those that you represent. I pray that you remain true to yourself, the constitution and the Party on whose platform you were elected. I also hope that you will use this golden opportunity not just to improve yourself but also your family, community and political future.
My brief remarks will be focused on the responsibilities of the legislature at the local government level in a democracy. Let us at this point leave the strength, depth, and utility of our democracy for another time. I acknowledge the weaknesses, fault-lines, and challenges that we continue to face in our struggle to build a truly inclusive, participatory, open and people-based democracy. We must continue to work at it because our individual and collective survival, progress and prosperity depend on the nurturing of democratic values, institutions and practices. There is no form of government that is superior to a democracy. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Chairmen, Collective Survival, Constitution Party, Constitutional Responsibilities, Councilors, Democratic Institutions, Democratic Values, Fault Lines, Form Of Government, Foundations, Golden Opportunity, Government Level, Legislative Duties, Legislature, Local Governance, Local Government, Local Governments, Many Names, Moving Resources, Participation In Politics, Presidential System Of Government, Proper Perspective, Prosperity, Social Justice
It is difficult to ascertain when legislatures came into being. I suppose that the difficulty lies in defining what is meant by legislature. In ancient Greece, the people of Athens gathered at the Acropolis, discussed matters affecting Athens and voted on them. Was such behavior legislative? In Igbo land, the entire male citizens above age fifteen gathered at the village square as Oha, Amala and discussed matters affecting the village and voted on what to do. Was such practice legislative? These were probably legislative behaviors except that they are not quite what we mean today when we think of formalized legislative process. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Amala, Ancient Greece, Battle Of Hastings, Duke Of Normandy, Earls, English Aristocracy, English Army, English Kings, French Duke, French Man, French Politics, French Rule, Frenchmen, Germanic Origin, King Of England, Kings Of England, Male Citizens, Plantagenet, Scandinavian Origin, William The Conqueror
Governance, Economics, and Interdependence: Constraints and Possibilities in Sub-Saharan Africa The breathtaking pace of political change in Africa has surpassed any predictions or expectations….Almost every country has experienced some form of citizens’ pressure for broader public participation in political and economic decision-making. Nearly two dozen authoritarian leaders have been overthrown or forced to share power. Read the rest of this entry »
Paper presented at the Summer Institute on “Governance, Equity, and the Global Poor: A Curriculum Development Institute,” Sponsored by Spelman College and Interfaith Hunger Appeal, Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, June 9-12, 1994.
Tags: Africa News, Astonishing Discovery, Authoritarian Leaders, Authoritarian Rule, Authoritarian Rulers, Breath Of Fresh Air, Breathtaking Pace, Curriculum Development, Democratization, Economic Decision, Hunger Appeal, Institute On Governance, Mass Participation, Military Dictatorships, New Disposition, Popular Movements, Public Participation, Spelman College Atlanta, Spelman College Atlanta Georgia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Three Decades
Paper presented at the conference on “Consolidating Democracy in Nigeria: Promoting Stable Civil-Military Relations” organized by the Yakubu Gowon Center, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria July 4-7, 2000. … while the military may appear for the moment to be in political decline, the problem of the military has not gone away. On the contrary, it is more urgently necessary than ever to find means to create viable civil-military relations and achieve constitutional and democratic control of military forces.i We have decided last night that governments coming to power by military force will not be allowed into the next summit (of the OAU). In the meantime, we will be working with them to return them to democratic society.ii Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Abuja Nigeria, African Economies, African Experience, Collective Rights, Constitutionalism, Deindustrialization, Democracy In Nigeria, Democratic Control, Despotic Regimes, Disorganization, Experience Paper, Military Relations, Negative Features, Political Decline, Sheraton Hotel, Social Decay, Structural Adjustment Programs, Unanimous Agreement, Unprecedented Changes, Yakubu Gowon