In Abraham Lincoln's phrase, democracy is a "government of the people, by the people and for the people." In school, they always repeat the same phrase, Markets, Offices and even during campaign, they will repeat the same phrase yet none has ever ask those politicians, government of which people? By which people? And for which people? Truly in Nigeria’s phrase, democracy is a government of the Makers, by the Observers and for the Participants. In Nigeria, people fondly say “politics is a dirty game”, yet nobody has ever explained to us, the game being played by who, with who? And for who? Of course the game is played between Makers versus Makers, the Observers are the umpires while the fans are the Participants. For one to be a maker, you must have the umpires and millions of fans.

Who are these makers?

They are the influential politicians in Nigeria, Decision makers, Cabals, Jagaban, godfather and have control over a particular tribe or ethnic group. They endorse the aspirants, pave way for the candidate whom has taken the oath of return investment and nourishes aspirant’s ambition on election eve. Meanwhile, most of these political makers in Nigeria are politicians of the First or Second Republic who have become regional lords or a former military chief of staff who has been able to engage in military political life visible on the occasion that the policy of the army the junta has been entrusted to them. Some of the makers are young but rich non-politicians.

They are the bulldozers on the Election Day, their thugs and octopus are ready for any manipulation in other to ensure their candidate win the election

The makers have a common denominator or interest, they want their money to be repaid with exorbitant profits. In fact they would see nothing wrong if the annual budget is fully integrated on their personal control. They always demand for political control in addition to financial control. Their strange or authentic wishes must be respected or you will be impeached.

They are the first step any aspirant must take, failure to identify the appropriate Maker or failed to consult the oracles (Makers) will be the starting point for your failure. They endorse based on the highest bidder.

They have the observers and participants that works for them.

The Observers

On this category, they are mostly journalists and mouthpiece of the aspirants. They take control of the media, they analyse and give good or bad reputations. One may see them as a weapon used to destroy an opponent, in fact they are the first ballot challenge aspirants face before and after the election.

They are the mediator between the participants and aspirants, any aspirants that failed to honour his agreement with the observers will have his black profile display on the front page of national dailies. They are capable of constructing lies, frame up and allegedly given fake reports about you constantly.

Failure to lobbying with the observers (public writers) will lead to fake analyses and eruption of your weak points. They can dig out ones past life and give it a caption that will put ones on defense and throw ones off balance throughout the election. They are the weapons used to attack and destroy aspirants that failed to honour the maker’s agreement.

These observers always seek to be in agreement with what they can get to cover an event, usually during campaigns. If no money is likely to come in their pocket, then no coverage. But not to go without something, they can twist the story to embarrass, scandalize or sing, thus making the source to seek them for settlement. They usually do what they can to protect their benefactors and raise problems on those they cannot benefit from.

But the present democracy dispensation proved them wrong, like the victory of Donald Trump, even when the Observers summarized Theresa May's, and she did not get the support.

The participants

These are the electorates that support the game when mutual understanding exist, they are like steam engine that will make grade under full steam. They always show the outcome if the makers play their role well, they become sheep when they have good shepherd but become chameleons during voting process. They are ready to dance to any sound of drum provided that drummer gives regular beats and willing to decamp to another sound if the drummer gives better and regular beats.

Few of the participants are trustworthy while the most see the election time as payback time, time to recover the loss and time to take their share of national cake.

Few of the participants become ones fans based on the candidate’s capability while most become ones fans because of ethnicity, tribe and region or endorse by Makers.

They are the sole target of the election, the makers, the observers depend on them to actualize their dream.

The credibility and fairness of the election depend on the participants but little do they know that the negative impact of bad governance will start with them.

Written by Collins
Source: http://www.up9ja.com/2017/08/makers-observers-and-participants-in.html

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Finfadei:
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Finfadei:
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Congratulations

Democracy is presently regarded by almost all countries of the world as the best form of government due to the obvious fact that the system allows for equal participation of the people in running the affairs of the state.

Sadly, our own democratic experience here in Nigeria is a clear departure from the purpose which democracy is meant to serve.

Like the popular saying, where there is smoke there is fire, where a state is in existence there is government. Likewise, where there is government, there is politics and power.
The power in a democratic system is designed to be exercised by the people, either by themselves or through representatives periodically elected by them.

Again, democracy is not just a system of political administration but a way of life where the dignity of the human person is respected.
The benefits of the system are captured in what scholars describe as dividends of democracy such as; popular participation, equal opportunities for all, rule of law, freedom of choice, freedom of expression and of the press, justice for all, respect for and promotion of fundamental rights etc.
Sadly, all the above templates are lacking in our democratic system, hence the believe that infrastructural development like roads, electricity, hospitals etc are the dividends of democracy in the understanding of our political actors in Nigeria.
Lets even assume this assertion by our leaders over here is correct. Then, what do we make of the fact that it is the military in Nigeria that is responsible for two-third of the infrastructural development in the country.
Do we now call road construction, electricity, hospitals, schools as done by the Nigerian military dividends of military rule? Or dividends of democratic military rule?
Until when these values are properly understood and propagated, Nigeria will continue to go after the shadow of democracy.

At this point of our national life, citizens should no longer see themselves as spectators in our national project but active and major stakeholders in making the system work....
Comprehensive and compulsory political education should be encouraged among the people. There should be transparency in the conduct of governance, for democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of secrecy and ignorance.
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to be continued
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ReubenE:

Congratulations

Participant