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. Fast forward to creating societies and the system of government that should preserve them. The prima facie foundation of all laws that be is the law of nature and the inalienable human rights. Hobbes itemized them in the 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. This is with retrospect to the 2023 presidential election, as well as the INEC declared president.

 

THE GENERAL WILL

Elections in Nigeria are predominantly characterized by partisan politics, campaigns, electorates, electoral commission, and violence. Despite its tedious nature and the amount of resources invested in the process, election(s) is a vital indicator of democracy. It creates the environment that enables citizens exercise the political yet fundamental right of choosing their leaders. It is safe to liken this to Rousseau’s ‘Social Contract’ in which constituents give up their will for ‘a sovereign’. Where the sovereign is not any individual in office, but the society. Rousseau calls the sovereign ‘a Collective Being’. While scholars may see this differently, it suites a clear interpretation of democracy in the context of this article. This is because people choose who wears the cap of the sovereignty while they are collectively the sovereign.

On 25th February, 2023 Nigerians across the country exercised the prima facie duty of every patriot – voting. The chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) assured the people of a credible election. The introduction of BVAS and the 2022 electoral act were instruments of hope. Also the amount of money that was invested in the process were further convictions. 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. For instance, there were 93.46million registered voters by January 11, 2023.

THE COMMON MAN & THE ELECTION DAY

The nature of democracy gives room for checks and balances which promotes the maintenance of order in the society. Also, to ensure that the will of the people is upheld; the rule of law exists. These checks and balances translated to the three arms of government in Nigeria. More so, it speaks of their independence in their execution of duties. Ipso facto patriots can go about their duties without fear of the enemies of the state. Each individual is a common man relying on the people’s government.

The election day

During the elections, the press and the news media updated Nigerians on the situation of things per environment. INEC through its chairman Prof. Yakubu Mahmood announced that accreditation and voting will begin at 8:00am and end at 2:00pm. INEC showed up late in some polling units yet Nigerians were punctual, they waited, voted, and the common man recorded his chronicles. In some places, the Nigeria Police Force turned a blind eye to the thugs that bullied and intimidated people. Voters became casualties, as the police bit fingers that feed them (of course the people’s tax pay their salaries). Individuals like Mrs. Bina Jennifer Efidi was stabbed as she stood to defend her democracy and that of many Nigerians. Social media was flooded with videos of corps members who were terribly injured for not compromising. People died for going to vote or attempting to uphold the right results. People were martyred for democracy. The common man was hopeful that the pains and labour will not be in vain.

 

WHAT IS THE HOPE OF THE COMMON MAN?

During collation, the INEC chairman addressed the nation and Nigerians watched with hope until party agents complained. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu told party agents to direct their observations to the court. A plot twist Nigerians did not envisage. Continuing the collations was really audacious, such despicable negligence! As though that was not enough, Mahmood declared a winner at 4am of March 1, 2023. While Nigerians dozed under the breeze of the early morning after a long night wait.

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. This means that professors are custodians of character and learning. 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. How can a citizen fulfil duty when disenfranchised by the system and thugs? What then is the hope of the common man?  Since he cannot choose the hands that will hold his staff of authority where is his democracy? What then should the common man who relies on the rule of law do? Where is the sovereignty of the society? Do we talk about the intimidation from the police? Or the fear of the judiciary failing us?

 

TIME TO RECLAIM SOVERIGNTY

Rousseau said a civil society is an evil society. This is because it that began with one man claiming ownership of a piece of land while others watched. Then more people joined and created a society to protect themselves. Well, there is no factual story for the beginning of private ownerships. 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? Well, the case of the presidential election is in court, and Nigerians are hopeful. They are hopeful that the court will convict the criminals and do justice. Then the power of democracy will be returned to the people.

Today, the democracy of Nigeria is dependent on the court at the moment, and its fabrics are losing strands. Notwithstanding, Nigerians must know that there is no democracy without their sovereignty. A citizen is merely a common man, and democracy is not a game of one man. Therefore the common man must again stand in unity against religious, ethnic, and tribal propagandas. A collective will makes the people stronger. For instance, it is easy to steal the village drum but where will it be played? As individuals, we are all commoners but our sovereignty rests in the unity of our vast majority. This supersedes our ethnicity, religion, social status, and tribes. The robe of sovereignty is the common man’s hope out of this helplessness.