The Bastardization Of Democracy: A No-Contest Presidential Election In Nigeria

By: UKWU ROCKS EMMA

Perhaps I am a prophet. Perhaps I am imbued with the gift of clairvoyance. A year ago (April 30, 2025), I published an article which predicted the muscling of ADC and other opposition parties for a NO-CONTEST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. Read JAGABANISM: THE REINCARNATION OF ABACHA?: by Ukwu Rocks Emma.

This is not intended to be a critique on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Neither is it an article of admiration for the Jagaban and his tactics.

These clarifications do not in any way translate to being apologetic for this epistle . I am simply capturing a rare phenomenon unfolding before our very eyes.

I am now more in agreement with that dictum that posits that “There is nothing new under the sun.” Indeed, there is something in the Jagaban that is reminiscing with the Strong Man before him. The Jackboot of the Nigerian military. The bespectacled one himself, the most celebrated and domineering Nigerian Maximum Ruler, General Sani Abacha of “blessed” memory. A quintessential Jagaban, if there were predecessors to Jagabanism.

Abacha and power as a topic could engage professors of Political Science for extended time of study. There was equal measure of haters and lovers for the taciturn tactician.

Many of those who were loyal to Abacha would give their lives for him. He demanded absolute loyalty. To Abacha, loyalty must be absolute. Not 99. His loyalists and cheer-team painstakingly trumpeted his name irrespective of underlying public opinion at the time. Abacha brooked no opposition. And understandably, after Abacha happened to Nigeria, opposition died.

Fast-forward to 2025. Today’s Maximum Ruler, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban, is trailed by similar traits. His legion of marketers and cheer-team are unwavering and are not deterred by prevailing public opinion, even the many skewed towards the negative. They flaunt only the positives unabashedly. (Not ‘unabachadly’). But these observations are tips of the iceberg, preambles, normal happenstances in politics and governance.

But it gets scaringly deeper, more intricate and most intriguing. Okay, let’s get back to the late 90s when Abacha, the Military Jagaban, held sway. He was the Maximum Ruler of Nigeria as Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (what President Tinubu is today under democratic colourations). Election was looming. Our concern here remains the Presidential Election. Five political parties (UNCP, NCPN, DPN, CNC & GDM) were existing and positioning to present candidates to replace Abacha in Aso Rock.

But, the then Jagaban in Aso Rock had a lot up his sleeves. For one, he was not planning to leave Aso Rock for anybody else. Personally, he did not make noise nor even discuss the matter. He had enough machinery and armoury on ground, including foot-soldiers doing the yeomen’s job.

The twist that took the cake was when suddenly, all the principal political actors started endorsing him to continue as elected president. Does that sound familiar? I mean, people who should be advocating for the presidential candidates of their own political parties, suddenly summersaulting and endorsing a man whose ouster their followers were looking up to them to spearhead.

Gradually, the independence and resolve of the different political parties began to be eroded, so much so that they began to adopt Abacha as the SOLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE of all the 5 political parties.

This incensed the late sage, Bola Ige (a.k.a. the Cicero) who released that famous toxic salvo, christening the 5 political parties as “5 leprous fingers of the same hand.” Meaning they were all tainted and unscrupulously working for the man many loved to hate and many more hated to love – Sani Abacha. I know this because, like Ikemba Nnewi – General Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu would say, I WAS INVOLVED in the political junketing of those days. I was the ABIA STATE ALGON CHAIRMAN – Chairman of all Elected Local Government Chairmen (being a sitting Elected Local Government Chairman myself).

Everyone was falling in line, even the most resilient and vocal. Some said it was STICK. Others argued it was CARROT that was used as the instrument of coercion. Many more did a simple arithmetic and added 1 plus 1 to get 2. They added STICK to the CARROT to arrive at Abacha’s master instruments of political control ( STICK & CARROT).

There may be more but no Journalist had the chance or courage to ask Abacha to confirm. The question skeptics may ask will be, “If Abacha had lived, would all the political parties and all politicians have capitulated to adopting the Military Jagaban for continuity in Aso Rock?”

The answer to that may lie in former Governor Sam Mbakwe’s response when queried by a journalist as to why even he, the fearless and irrepressible Mbakwe attended a solidarity rally for the Maximum Ruler. The respected statesman replied, “My brother, as things stand, if Abacha asks me to carry him on my back and trek to the stadium, I will comply o!” Very instructive!

Opposing the then Jagaban was not an option . It was no longer profitable or advisable (if not risky) for the leaders. Enough of Abacha. He died in 1998. 27 years ago. May his soul rest in peace. Amen!

Back to 2025. We now have another Jagaban in Aso Rock. Opposition politicians and political parties are supposed to concern themselves with plotting the replacement of the civilian Jagaban. But like the Military Jagaban, this present-day Jagaban is neither smiling nor making noise, nor even discussing the matter. But also like in 1998, legions of presidential loyalists are brooking no opposition. Like yesteryears, even opposition politicians are already falling over themselves to endorse the occupant of Aso Rock. Check the list: Governors, Senators, Federal and State Assembly Members and even the National Assembly Caucus of the main Opposition party. Hahahaha. Nothing new under the sun really.

What next are Nigerians to expect? The various political parties, including the opposition parties , to begin their own round of endorsements? Note that the word “Impossible” is alien to Nigerians. It happened in 1998. Don’t bet against it happening in 2025. The erosion of the mere existence of the opposition parties is in full throttle. Take the two major opposition as case study. Who is in charge of PDP? What of the LP? If you take this question to the street, the answers will be as many as respondents, trust me. And this is just morning. These and more conundrums are the reasons why I am wont to ask, ” Is the present Jagaban (at least in methods, tactics and results) a student of an earlier Jagaban’s school of political jiggery-pokery or are we merely witnessing a gale of bizarre coincidences?

Hon Ukwu Rocks Emma is a Pioneer Legislator and Media Consultant)