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 as long as the predator was standing strong with whatever the object of conquest was. 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 singular aim of this article is to critically assess the hope of the common man in Nigeria with retrospect to the 2023 presidential election, as well as the INEC declared president.

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 in countries where the government must be for the people, of the people, and by the people. It is safe to liken this to Rousseau’s ‘Social Contract’ which implies that the 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 in this context, people choose who wears the cap of the sovereignty while they are collectively the sovereign with a general will.

On February 25, 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 amount of money that was invested in the process were further convictions that 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 INEC recorded an increase in the number of registered voters such that the total number of registered voters released by INEC on January 11, 2023 was 93.46 million, more so a lot of Nigerians stood under the rain and sun to vote and ensure that it was counted – some had to wait till nightfall since duty is an imperative.

THE COMMON OF 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 enemies of the state since there are elements of the people’s power available to protect the people – hence each individual is a common man relying on the people’s 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. Nigerians were there on time since INEC through its chairman Prof. Yakubu Mahmood announced that accreditation and voting will begin at 8:00am and end at 2:00pm. INEC set the appointment unapologetically failed to show up on time at many polling units across the geopolitical zones but the common man overlooked the wrong and kicked on with the day’s business till the results were collated. 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, as a matter of fact biting the fingers that feed them (of course the people’s tax pay their salaries). While people were martyred for democracy, Mrs. Bina Jennifer Efidi who was stabbed multiple times in the face at her polling unit in Surulere became a hero of Nigerian democracy. The social media was flooded with videos of corps members who were terribly injured for not compromising – the list of the evil meted out is endless. In all these, the common man was hopeful that the pains and labour will not be in vain. 

RECLAIM SOVERIGNTY

Nobody knew INEC had a card up their sleeve the national collation that was presided by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu began and he asked party agents to direct their observations to court and while Nigerians dozed under the breeze of the early morning Mahmood declared a winner at 4am of March 1, 2023. In Igbo language, professor translates to ‘oka mmuta akwukwo’ which literally means the one who is most learned in a particular field. 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 his car?

The basic duty of a citizen begins with sitting in the electorate, what then is the hope of the common man if he cannot choose the hands that will hold his staff of authority? If the police intimidates the press, and the judiciary favours the one who has the staff, what should the common man who relies on the rule of law do? Is this really democracy? 

CONCLUSION

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 saw the irregularities and said nothing, the president congratulated INEC’s president-elect, and Nigerians hoped and still hope that Justice will be done.

Where some seem to be above the rule of law and others are treated as lower citizens the question of who we are in the scheme of things must be answered. As an individual a citizen is merely a common man, and democracy is not a game of one man. Democracy crowns sovereignty on the people through the choice of the people hence 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. Nigeria is over sixty years and at sixty an adult is headed for retirement, which means that the country is ripe for full blown maturity and 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’s hope out of this helplessness.