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Just like Nigeria, which has an ethnic and cultural diversities with numerous indigenous languages, Liberia is a West African country that has just taken the lead ahead of Nigeria in promoting true democracy and selfless leadership in mother Africa’s continent.
By the outcome of its recently conducted November, 2023 presidential election where the incumbent president, HE George M. Weah didn’t only lose, but promptly conceded defeat, and also promising to work with the newly elected president in moving their country forward on the path of socioeconomic prosperity, Liberia has proved that election should not be seen as a do or die affair as being witnessed in certain countries such as ours, Nigeria.
It has equally shown us – the self-acclaimed giant of Africa – that elections should not be an affair of snatch it, grab it and run away with it. Liberia has shown the true beauty of democracy that electorate should be allowed to come out and exercise their rights in choosing who should lead them. And that the will of the people should be allowed to prevail when they have chosen, by ballots, whom they wish to lead them.
It prevailed in Liberia. Yes, no single form of violence was witnessed. No life was lost. No ballot was snatched. No voter was threatened. No mandate was stolen. No forgery was seen.
The event that happened in Liberia with respect to the conduct of its elections is the true essence of democratic tenets which our dear country, Nigeria, lacks in all ramifications. Liberians were allowed to choose their next president in a free, fair and credible election. And they willingly choose Mr. Joseph Boakai against the incumbent President Weah who must have thought that he has been doing his best for his fellow country men, women and children. Alas, the people of Liberia choosing his opponent over him was an indication that the “best” he has offered for the country wasn’t best enough to have him continue to led them, and therefore, wanted a breath of fresh air of leadership by voting against him.
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Unfortunately for Nigeria and Nigerians, the electoral bandits masquerading as its leaders won’t learn from the showmanship and true spirit of unity already exhibited by the leadership and people of Liberia. For the so-called leaders in Nigeria, elections must be about perpetration of bloody violence, heavy bribery and manipulatively usurping the will of dear people. It’s so pathetically unfortunate.
Indeed, Africa’s morning is at hand, but then, when is Nigeria’s daybreak coming? Pray, tell!
Aaron, an advocate of transformative governance, writes from Ibadan, Nigeria.
