INTRODUCTION

When Thomas Hobbes described the state of nature he specifically stated that life was poor, brutish, nasty, and short. Man was self-seeking and the one who conquered took it all. If I may borrow a leaf from Machiavelli, the end justified the means and it did not matter whose back was on the ground.  Fast forward to creating societies and the system of government that should preserve them. The prima facie foundation of all laws that be (especially with regards to the fundamental human rights) is the law of nature and the natural human rights. Hobbes split them into nineteen laws of nature in his assessment of the creation of societies. The  aim of this article is to critically assess the hope of the common man in Nigeria with retrospect to the 2023 presidential election.

THE GENERAL WILL

Nigeria elections are predominantly characterized by partisan politics, campaigns, the electorates, electoral commission, and violence which should not be. Despite its tedious nature and the amount of resources invested in the process, election(s) is a vital indicator of democracy.  It is safe to liken this to Rousseau’s ‘Social Contract’–that individuals of a society give up their wills for their sovereign. Where the sovereign is the body of the association not any individual. While scholars may see this differently, it suites a clear interpretation of democracy, people choose who wears the cap of sovereignty while they are collectively the sovereign with a general will.

On 25th February, 2023 Nigerians across the country exercised their power as the sovereign by voting their choice candidate – the prima facie duty of every patriot. Prior to the elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) assured Nigerians of a credible election. The introduction of BVAS, the new electoral act 2022, and the money invested posed the process would birth a new Nigeria.

Beyond the prima facie duty of a patriot, Nigerians trusted INEC to live up to its words. Hence the total number of registered voters released by INEC on 11th January 2023 was 93.46 million. More so a lot of Nigerians stood under the rain and sun to vote. They ensure that it was counted – some had to wait till nightfall since duty is an imperative.

THE COMMON MAN

Of course while the government is by the people, of the people, and for the people, there must be checks and balances that maintains order in the society and to ensure that the will of the people is upheld hence the existence of the rule of law, law enforcement agencies, and consequences of actions. Although not the same, these triune can be translated to the executive, the legislator, and the judiciary where each is independent in the execution of its duties. Ipso facto patriots can go about their duties without fear of the state’s enemies. There are elements  available to protect the people – hence each individual is a common man relying on the  government.

WHAT IS HIS HOPE

During the elections, the press and the news media executed their jobs by updating Nigerians on the situation of things per environment. Following the commission’s announcement that accreditation and voting will begin at 8:00am and end at 2:00pm, Nigerians were punctual. INEC unapologetically failed to show up on time at many polling units across the geopolitical zones. The common kicked on with the day’s business until collation.

In some places, law enforcement agencies like the Nigeria Police Force turned a blind eye to the thugs that bullied and intimidated people, turning voters to casualties. While people were martyred for democracy, Mrs. Bina Jennifer Efidi became a hero of Nigeria democracy. She was stabbed multiple times in the face, but she defended her vote and those of many others. Social media was flooded with videos of corps members who were terribly injured for not comprising. Yet, the common man was hopeful that the labour will not be in vain.

WHAT IS THE HOPE OF THE COMMON OF THE MAN?

Nobody knew what cards INEC had up their sleeve until the national collation that was presided by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu began, and he asked party agents to direct their observations to the court. The impetuous to hold shoulders that were buried in negligence of duty that high! As though that was not enough, Mahmood declared a winner at 4:00am of March 1, 2023 while Nigerians dozed under the breeze of the early morning.

In Igbo language, professor translates to ‘oka mmuta akwukwo’ which means ‘the most learned of a subject’. Now the formal education issues certificates that a student has done well in character and learning, which means that professors could be custodians of character and learning seeing that they have reached the apex of knowledge even beyond the academic world? How is it that Prof. Mahmood Yakubu did not act by the books? Did he resume collation leaving his professorship at the library or in his car? The basic duty of a citizen begins with sitting in the electorate, if the electorate is not allowed to sit in properly, what then is the hope of the common man?  If he cannot choose the hands that will hold his staff of authority where is his democracy? If the police intimidates the press, and the judiciary favours the one who can buy it, what should the common man who relies on the rule of law do? Where is the sovereignty of the society?

TIME TO RECLAIM SOVEREIGNTY

Jean Jacque Rousseau in his “Social Contract” opined that a civil society is an evil society that began with one man claiming ownership of a piece of land and others letting him have it. Well, there is no factual story for the beginning of private ownerships and like many countries, Nigeria is a civil society and has a social contract which the government is accountable to. Sadly, the Federal Government witnessed the irregularities and said nothing, instead the president congratulated INEC’s president-elect. How can the president of a Federal Republic congratulate a candidate of an election with magnanimous irregularities? Take away the modesty, how can the broad day light robbery be upheld with a congratulatory message from the president? The same way acclaimed arrested terrorists are called repentant and are released back to the society. Well, the case of the presidential election is in court, and Nigerians still hope that the court will convict the criminals do justice and return the power of democracy to where it should be.

While the life of our democracy is dependent on the court, and the fabrics seem to be losing its strands, the common man must be reminded that there is no democracy without their sovereignty. Aa citizen is merely a common man, and democracy is not a game of one man, hence the common man must again stand in unity against religious, ethnic, and tribal propagandas because if democracy crowns sovereignty on the people through the choice of the people, the people must stick together that no one entity can unseat the people. It is easy to steal the village drum but where will it the played? That is today’s case in Nigeria; the drum has been stolen and colony of thieves are looking for where to play it. Nigerians must understand the sovereignty they wield and not be intimidated by anyone. As individuals, we are all commoners but our sovereignty rests in the unity of our vast majority – superseding our ethnicity, religion, social status, and tribes. The robe of sovereignty is the common man’s hope out of this helplessness.