Nigerian former envoy to the Philippines, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi has said that free and fair election does not guarantee good governance or enduring democracy.
He disclosed this at a public lecture in Osogbo, Osun State capital where he cited that a free and fair election produced dictators such as Adolf Hitler, stating that a strong electoral institution in a society that is weak will not produce democracy.
His words: “In a normal democracy, the people must be stronger than the state. It is only then the state becomes answerable to the people. This is not the case in most developing African countries, particularly Nigeria.
“It is also important that political parties generate the best candidates so that when the people make a choice, it will be a reasonable choice.
“It is only when high calibre candidates are presented that electoral institutions present reasonable choices to the people”, Farounbi said.
Also speaking, Chairman, Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Otunba Segun Oladitan, said enduring democracy is enamoured with separation of powers, independence of judiciary and vibrant legislature.
In his keynote address titled: “Strengthening Nigeria’s Electoral Process For Enduring Democracy And Good Governance” Oladitan noted that to make maximal gains from our democracy, we must make sacrifice of developing our democratic institutions and security apparatus to an enviable status.
“Prioritising election without addressing fundamental issues being raised across the country will not give us the expected results of having stable polity, enduring democracy and good governance.
“No enduring democracy and good governance can exist without the credible electoral process. This without doubt engender an electoral system that can survive the baits of political way-farers, the vices of corruption, the challenges of insecurity and its backlash on the integrity of political office holders as well as the voting public.”
The OSIEC boss said today, the country is weakened in upholding democratic principles and the citizens are the victims.
He stated that in spite of suggestions and moves to embrace electoral reforms, the challenges are still obvious, noting that with the non-resolution of political and economic issues as the 2023 General Elections beckons, it is not immodest to aver that much is still required to ensure a strong electoral process that will produce the desired results.
The Hope
