Democracy is again on the slab in Nigeria. It's gasping for breath! The slaughterers are ready. The knives are drawn. Notices of the plans to "do in" democracy in that country are being rushed to the press .The latest of such notices was served on the Cable News Network (CNN) news program last Sunday, March 5, 2006 by Fani-Kayode, Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

  On the CNN news program Fani Kayode confirmed, what was already an the open -secret- that the Nigerian government has some hands in the moves to amend the constitution so that Mr. Obasanjo can stand for election in 2007. He also dismissed warnings from United States Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other global leaders, that Nigeria might indeed be plunged into chaos and violence if the Third Term campaign of his boss succeeds.

  Hear him: "It is part and parcel of democratic process for people to make choices and that is precisely what Nigerian people are trying to do today through constitutional process and no one should take that from them". It would not be proper for us to comment now  (on third term). When we get to the bridge we shall cross it.

 Just days before, Olabode George, Deputy National Chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), compared the Nigerian state to an aircraft, needing Obasanjo as the only pilot to take it to a cruising democratic level before "Ah!  Democracy groans.  What democratic process? What are these choices; who are those framing these choices, Are the Nigerian people as willing as being portrayed, to be passengers in this "aircraft"? It's funny that a navy commodore will use an aircraft as imagery for democracy. Do you still wonder why aviation mishaps are commonplace in Nigeria? Round pegs in square holes.

  First, one must acknowledge President Olusegun Obasanjo's achievements. Beyond making cell phones affordable to Nigerians. His anti-corruption and fiscal investment drives are actually commendable. Obasanjo's assistance towards the humanitarian and security situations in the Darfur region of the Sudan and the Great Lakes is also as important as his effort in the fight against global terrorism.   There however seem to be less enthusiasm and aptness on the part of the Obasanjo government to ensure that democracy and respect for human rights become seated culture of politics in addition to being the key indexes of good governance in the country.

   To be sure, if we were to follow the paradigm of how democracy would look if democratic institutions were working, as they should in Nigeria, elsewhere too, we would locate sovereignty squarely in the citizenry, or more accurately in the Nigerian people. President Obasanjo could act differently by allowing Nigerians exercise their sovereignty actively, freely and regularly, especially on the 3rd term issue and its implication for the future of Nigeria. The Nigerian government, if indeed it is not trying to hurt democracy, could act differently by engaging the Nigerian people on these issues, in ways that bring to the surface those things that are valuable to Nigerians.

  Since the Nigerian president and those campaigning for his self-succession plans have so far not made genuine efforts to explore the concerns of the citizens, the survival of Democracy in Nigeria now depends on you. To be sure, whether or not democracy survives and become part of public life in Nigeria will depend on what citizens of Nigeria and democrats across s the world do now.

  Fani-Kayode and Olabode George are just doing what Chukwumerije, another government spokes person in Nigeria did, just years ago when Sanni Abacha was pursuing a self-succession plan. Yes, what's going on in Nigeria at this time is not really fresh. Many can vividly recall how late Sani Abacha similarly cowed, manipulated and used politicians to pursue his ill-fated agenda. 

   Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has done it. Obasanjo wants to do it. So What? But will he respect the presidential oath of office he swore to in 1999 and 2003?  Nigerian citizens, the press, civic society, lawmakers, judges, professionals, students, youth, women, religious, and community leaders may have to begin to explore all other non-violent ways to protect our cherished democracy and restore its due process.

   But how do you deal with a man like Obasanjo?  How do you convince a man with a unique destiny that, in the ongoing re-arrangement for the new world order, he may not be as important or powerful as he think he is?  Tunde Bakare, a Nigeria pastor, had no success. How do citizens and civic institutions act differently to prevent the demise of democracy in Nigeria especially now that, the opposition party in Nigeria is almost extinct?

  Especially now that the labor movement in Nigeria has been fragmented; now that the pro-democracy activists are either dead or wearied; now that politicians and law-makers have been whipped into line and the others are scared stiff of the consequences of opposing 3rd term agenda; now that Northern leaders through Governor Abdulkhadir Kure of Niger State have served warning that any attempt not to allow power to shift to the North come 2007 may spell doom and lead to polarization of the country. How should the Nigerian people and lovers of freedom, justice and democracy deal with this powerful ruler of a great country?  Remain silent. Look and laugh. Run to the bushes. How?

As apparent from the situations in the oil rich Niger Delta, Anambra, Oyo and the North of Nigeria, violent resistance to poverty, injustice and perceived political exclusion by the Nigerian people will not ensure stability, prosperity or democratic peace. A Coup de tat is not also an option for the Nigerian people. Those of us that went into different "trenches" in support of democracy the last time, know that military take over of government in Nigeria, will be a step backward. Besides, the military already seem to have taken over in Nigeria.

You only have to look at the profiles of the senators, chieftains of the ruling party, state governors, and appointed government officials, to get the picture. The same political jobbers, who ruled Nigeria with guns and decree, are now in public offices and now poised to consolidate their hold.  It's Army Arrangement, ala Fela Anikulapo-Kuti..  They knew military rule with guns was going to be obsolete, so what did they do? They re-organized themselves; they maintained a network and re-trained. With enough money to spare, they are now in power perverting the constitutional process and orchestrating the demise of democracy in Nigeria.

  Organize, train, Network and then Act individually and collectively. Sure looks like a sound strategy. It should not be exclusive to the military. Citizens can also use the strategy.  Can journalists help? I think so.  Contemporary knowledge, and trends about the power and influence of the media, suggest that sound bytes and straight reporting, covert and overt moves to hurt democracy subvert a country's constitution or threaten peace and stability in a country, should not be the only way journalists should act. Journalists in Nigeria, and colleagues abroad, can act differently to protect democracy.

Just like Nigerian media practitioners did in the past, they could again re-organize, re-train and network as they inform, educate and open up the public space for increased participation of the Nigerian people in resisting illiberal democracy. The news media in Nigeria could go beyond simply reporting as usual, and become more involved in civil society initiatives for building a more virile society. Acting differently might require doing more than the "objective" reporting of events, ideological shout-fests, or discussions framed in the classic, journalistic "either/or" frame.

 The fixation with power in developing countries makes journalists' endangered specie. Nigeria is no different. I should know!  Meanwhile, journalists are also citizen and stakeholders who need to remain professional but act differently without making ourselves vulnerable to becoming causalities.  First step might be to think differently. It might be to begin to see the media as a civic institution, which could be similarly effective in engaging citizens and strengthening civic- life. Politics and democracy as covered in the news has to be beyond the traditional view of supporters and oppositions of Obasanjo's 3rd term agenda. Journalists could engage citizens on the implication of these agenda on the future of democracy in Nigeria.

Civic society members in Nigeria may also need to take on these strategies as they connect with one another and civic society members globally to build trust and the spirit of working together; to explore other non-violence inclusive ways of protecting democracy in Nigeria. Given the status of Nigeria in Africa, warnings, like the recent one from United States Intelligence Agency (CIA) may not be the only way the international community can act. The unfolding situation in Nigeria might be pointing to the need to study and fund initiatives in constructive engagement among citizens and between citizens and officials. Everybody knows that this is an essential ingredient of representative democracy. There might be fresh insights from knowing more about how citizen articulate or can further articulate their concerns and how government officials in "states" like Nigeria listen to them.

  Meanwhile, a Nigerian High Court has ordered the National Assembly Joint Committee on the Review of the 1999 constitution to desist from conducting the public hearing on proposed amendments to the constitution to seal the third term agenda. Will Obasanjo obey this court order? Recent history shows that his administration does not always obey court orders? But, why should he not act differently this time?

Will Nigeria break-up? I don't think so. Although I usually take the words of Fani-Kayode with a pinch of salt, I tend to agree with him on two points in his latest CNN appearance.  The first point is when he said: "It is part and parcel of democratic process for people to make choices" The second was when he said:  "No matter what happens in future, Nigeria will not disintegrate".

 Except of course, we allow democracy to die in Nigeria. I'm sure Obasanjo himself does not want that.

 I believe that an educated, engaged and deliberative citizenry is not only vital to a healthy democracy but also to a peaceful and vibrant community.

Democracy is on the slaughter slab again in Nigeria. What will you do?