Trumps and customised democracies in Africa, by Aminu Habibu Jahun
The Trumps aren’t unknown in postcolonial African politics. Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th American president, is their quintessential fascistic and narcissistic embodiment. Opposed to the organic link of democracy, the people and society, African Trumps would hardly allow democracy to take root in many African nations.
Democratic theorists envisaged that separation of powers would be sufficient to let democracy flourish, as it automatically restrains powerful actors against it. However, the theorists didn’t envisage the corrosive effects of democratic Goliaths on separation of powers, rendering it in Nigerian Senate parlance : dead on arrival emasculating the legislative and judicial power centres concentrating all powers in executive presidents.
Trumpism is the political philosophy driving the GOP’s ultra right fringe, recreating American society in its warped image, purging it of greatness, and purging it of lots of internal enemies, whilst a tiny segment of corporate America is exponentially expanding its powers and wealth. It is the 21st century variant of Hitlerism.
The Nazis attempted to recreate German society in their dangerously warped image, hollowing German society, through violent purges of its non Aryan race. Nazi general’s anticipated their Trumpish progenies, who would powerfully exploit political systems, imposing whatever they wish on states and societies.
The chief exponent of Trumpism, according to his former Chief of Staff, General John Kelly, is fascinated by dictatorship, hitlerite politics and Nazi generals, insisting that the Fuhrer did some good things (which mustn’t include antisemitic annihilations, because Trump is set to purge American society of antisemites). Like the Fuhrer, Trump wouldn’t want to be constrained from pulling anything, anytime he likes.
From Cape to Cairo, Addis to Dakar, African Trumps are legion. Presidents Biya, El Sisi, Gnassingbe, Museveni including PBAT couldn’t have been less inspired by the Trumpian ethos of unconstrained imposition of anything anytime on their states and societies.
Does effective separation of powers exist in the Cameroons, Uganda, Togo or in Egypt’s militarised democracy, preventing their transformation into Trumpish enclaves?
In Nigeria, separation of powers is effectively muzzled. The central and subnational legislative organs are being purged of independent minded legislative activism. It was the purge of pro people legislative activism which sealed the fate of Senator Ndume as a principal officer, led to the suspension of Abdul Ningi and Natasha from the red chamber; and the recent efforts to recall her by her constituency.
Since Biya’s 1982 power grab, Camerounian democracy has been customised to his economic, political and security preferences. And, President Museveni has customised what remains of Ugandan democracy into his economic, political and security preferences. Many other African presidents are treading their paths.
Since the political representatives of the dominant social classes, exercise political power, a tiny fringe of the upper class customises democracy to fit into their economic and political dictates.
Isn’t there the tendency to customise Nigeria’s democracy into the economic, political and security trajectories of a few Nigerians? Since General Gowon pointed in 1975 that returning the nation to democratic rule in 1976 was unrealistic, the ensuing struggle for democratisation became protracted, violently claiming lives, pushing many into exile, and getting others incarcerated. But many would still ask: why no longer than three decades into a new democratic republic, should the nation be drifting away from core democratic values to an anti people trajectory?
Attempts by the pioneer president of the 4th Republic to customise Nigeria’s democracy to political sight tightism, collapsed due to the democratic vigilance in the National Assembly and the Judiciary. Unfortunately for democracy, the Tinubu presidency unleashed fresh concerted efforts to customise democracy into the economic and political preferences of a few Nigerians.
It is inglorious for a postcolonial nation, especially the most populous in Africa, to have trampled and violated liberal democracy.
Wherever Trumpism takes root (in advanced or new democracies) it fulfills a basic role: it completely cows society to enable a tiny segment of society to amass obscene wealth. An ancillary role to the basic one is to dismantle the educational system. Trump is defunding research and other faculty services in American Universities. Nigerian Trumps have long ago declared war on education.
From the fascist ashes of hitlerism, Trumpism has picked up the gauntlet beaming its fascistic and narcissistic torch to different parts of the globe, denying the people health care, education and their humanity. The Trumpish onslaught on societies is a global onslaught against the people. It could be contained in states with strong institutional framework, but could completely ruin weak states such as Nigeria. The only way out is to fight it.
Jahun, a commentator on public affairs writes from Dutse, the Jigawa State Capital. He can be reached on 07039038088
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