Democracy in Nigeria- Local Control

It was interesting to be in the settings that we were in during our time in Nigeria.  The country has been grappling with democracy for the past eight years.  Previous attempts at this experiment have resulted in the military taking over the government after a few years.  In two previous instances the military took over after concerns with corruption and fraud.

The current system of democracy is mirrored somewhat after the US’s experiment in federalism.  A significant difference in our two systems is the role of local government.  In Nigeria, the role is more limited with many functions such as the judiciary and the police being provided by the federal government. 

As our communities grapple with the cost of providing public safety in the US, the concept of regionalism is heavily discussed but often not implemented.  During a few of our sessions, people would ask why in the US we would have so many local governments providing similar types of services such as police.  From the global perspective our system is inefficient and costly.  For some of the small townships and villages to have their own police department makes no sense.  Unfortunately, history and the desire for local control often trump common sense. 

I would chuckle to myself when we would be considered experts when our own systems could learn from their experiences or a review of our own practices.  The hardest part of my job as an elected official was to keep the conversation of regionalism moving forward.  So many issues revolved around personalities, ego and turf.  Hopefully, some of lessons we learned or are still learning will not have to be repeated here in Nigeria.

Democracy in Nigeria- The Rule of Law

The recent presidential elections and state elections occurred in Nigeria last year.  Though there is in reality only one dominant party-the PDP (People’s Democratic Party), many of the elections were marred by inconsistencies and claims of fraud.  The courts are currently reviewing these cases.

During our trip one of the final cases was heard and the judge declared a state election null and void with the new governor being asked to vacate their seat.  The recently elected President, Umaru Yar'Adua, declared that he would step down if the courts ruled against his election.  He would stand for the rule of law.  The rule of law is the fundamental check and balance for a democracy.   

Nigeria’s democracy is fragile and at this juncture could be at a breaking point with the beginning of another regime of military rule around the corner.  The elected leaders stepping down for new elections because of the rule of law is a strong symbol for this government and could sustain their democracy at this critical time.  Of course, the stakes aren’t as high because Nigeria is a one party democracy. The election can be redone properly and you will have similar leadership in power.

As we look around the world this winter and look at the number of countries that are in chaos after their last elections, I have a greater appreciation of what our country went through in 2000.  Elections like those often throw countries into civil war. Al Gore declared his defeat during his concession speech after the Supreme Court decision because our country was based on the rule of law.  Even though he had won the popular vote and though there was documented proof of election fraud in Florida, he understood that the rule of law, no matter how political the result, was what kept us a peaceful nation. 

"Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken.  Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it.  I accept the finality of this outcome which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College.  And tonight, for the sake of our unity of the people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession...      Some have asked whether I have any regrets and I do have one regret:  that I didn't get the chance to stay and fight for the American people over the next four years, especially for those who need burdens lifted and barriers removed, especially for those who feel their voices have not been heard.  I heard you and I will not forget."---  Al Gore December 13, 2000.

No Mr. Vice President, we will not forget how much of a true hero you are to our country and the democracy we so cherish.

A Day in the Life- Jos, Nigeria

During our visit to Jos, we had lunch with a colleague of Robert Glew.  The gentleman, Ali, had worked with Rob’s father when his father was working in Nigeria.  After lunch he was insistent that we go with him to see his village and the school that was nearby.

As we turned off of the main highway to the road where the school and village were located, we made a stop.  I wasn’t sure why we had stopped because there wasn’t anything around us.  Rob and Ali walked toward a sign that was rusted around the sides.  Ali informed us that Rob’s father was very involved in raising funds for the school and that the school was named after him.

The school was a few kilometers down the road and was still in session.  I felt strange as we pulled into the school because here we were disrupting their day.  But then again, when I was a kid any distraction during the school day was appreciated.  We were introduced to the headmaster who was dressed in very stylish soccer warm up.  The headmaster informed us that the school was very popular but not big enough for the number of kids.  They moved to half-day instead of full days sessions so they could accommodate all the children.   There was an unfinished addition and many of the teachers conducted classes outside.

After we completed our visit to the school we went to the Ali’s village.   The village was a few kilometers from the school.  As we emerged from the van we were surround by a number of children.  One of them shouted to us, “You are welcome!”  “You are welcome” is they way many people greet you in the areas that we visited.  It still caught me by surprise because I am so used to hearing that phrase after one says- “Thank you.”   As we walked through the village and met some of Ali’s family members, the kids followed us.  When the children realized we had cameras they began to yell, “Picture! Picture!”  I found myself taking pictures and showing them the results on the camera’s digital screen to their great delight.  As soon as I took one kid’s picture, two or three others would ask me to take theirs. 

As we went back to the hotel that evening, we were informed about the challenges that that village has had in the past.  The village was recently transplanted by the government from another area to its current location.  There had been troubles between this village and another village and there was a massacre of many of the adult males.  I didn’t realize it at the time but when I looked back I realized that I hadn’t seen any adult males during my time at the village.  Immense challenges for the village but the people had a spirit about them.  I wish them well on their journey.

The MSU Delegation to Nigeria

The MSU delegation with colleagues at Jos University.

I was pleased to be a part of the Michigan State University delegation to Nigeria. The second phase of the grant that MSU’s Center of Advanced Study of International Development (CASID) received provided resources for a delegation to visit the cities of Abuja and Jos to conduct a series of site visits and present a day long seminar on local government and NGO (nonprofit) best practices.

The delegation was a great group of people, including a few that I had worked with in the past. The delegation included the following people besides yours truly:

Dr. Robert Glew - Rob is the acting director of the Center for Advanced Study of International Development (CASID). He is also the co-director of the Responsible Governance: A US-Nigeria Exchange Program. Rob was the head of our delegation.

Dr. Rita Kiki Edozie - Kiki is an assistant professor at MSU’s James Madison College. She is well published and has a research focus on African affairs, comparative democracy and sustaining international economic development.

Ted Staton - Ted is the city manager of the city of East Lansing. Ted and I had the opportunity to work with one another during my twelve years of elected office in East Lansing. Not only a great city manager more importantly a good friend.

George Goodman - George is the retired executive director of the Michigan Municipal League, which is the association for cities and villages throughout Michigan. He is also the former mayor of Ypsilanti.

Ann Allegra - Ann is the International Program Coordinator at the Center of Advanced Study of International Development (CASID). She had also worked on human rights issues in Zimbabwe. She was the lead coordinator of our arrangements before and during our time in Nigeria.

The wonder of technology allowed me to finalize my powerpoint presentation while I was in Santa Cruz, Costa Rica. My father shipped a sports coat to Ted Staton to bring along with him so when I gave my presentation I looked somewhat respectable. No need to tell the participants of the seminar that I have been living out of a backpack for the past five weeks!

The Long Journey To Abuja

The journey to Abuja, Nigeria was a long one because as you can imagine there are no direct flights from San Jose, Costa Rica.  I flew from San Jose to Miami (five hour layover) Miami to Frankfurt (three hour layover) and Frankfurt to Abuja. During my layover in Miami, I went to a restaurant to get myself a good old-fashioned American burger.  My month long diet of rice and beans was about to be over!

I sat at the bar and order my burger and began to surf the web on my trusty laptop.  There was a group of four people to my right and they were talking about the Dave Matthews cruise they were just on.  I interjected into their conversation at one point and the guy looked at me strangely and asked where I was from.  After I told him-- “East Lansing, Michigan” – he said, “Hey aren’t you- Sam Singh? We met at a tailgate at the MSU/UM game together.”  Another small world experience!

I was the first in our delegation to arrive in Abuja.  The embassy had arranged for an expediter to meet me at the airport.  I don’t know why but whenever I am at an airport I look at the people holding placards and always look for my name.  I know that no one is waiting for me but still I look.  This time someone was holding a placard for a “Mr. Singh.”  It was comical but all he did was walk me from immigration to baggage claim and once I had my luggage to the driver that was waiting for me. Somehow I think I could have managed this complicated labyrinth on my own but it as they say- it is the thought that counts.

After I checked into my hotel, I got down to business-very important business.  It wasn’t a review of my PowerPoint presentation or researching Nigerian nongovernmental organization (NGO) trends.  I needed to figure out where to watch the Superbowl!  The game would start at midnight and unfortunately the hotel’s cable would not have the game.  I hadn’t had much time to research Abuja before arriving and the Lonely Planet Africa book that I looked at in the Miami Airport had only a few paragraphs on Abuja.

I quickly forgot about the Superbowl when I was informed that the only sport that people were concerned about was the Africa Cup of Nations.  I was in Nigeria during the biggest soccer tournament in Africa!  The matches were being held in Ghana and that next evening (Superbowl Sunday) was the quarter final between Nigeria and their rival Ghana.  Now I had a new task where was I going to watch the Nigeria match.  This was bigger than the Superbowl and it was real football or should I say futbol.

After the match was over we had dinner and called it a night because we had to be up for meeting early on Monday morning.  I was exhausted.  The travel from the day before along with jetlag hit me.  Even if I had wanted to see the Superbowl my body wouldn’t let me. 

From what I understand I missed one of the better Superbowls but in the end I didn’t care who won because I dislike both teams.  The Patriots were too hyped and full of themselves and the Giants were led by Eli Manning who should have been a man and played for San Diego-the team that drafted him.  The only good part of the highlights I saw on CNN on Monday morning was that former MSU wide receiver Plaxico Burress caught the winning touchdown.  As we chanted at the Citrus Bowl in 2000--Plaxico is fantastico!

I ended up watching the game at the hotel with our delegation and other guests (and a few employees but I didn't see anything!)  It was a good match but unfortunately Ghana was the stronger team and they ended up winning. The Africa Cup of Nations Final match was two days after we were done with our work in Nigeria and though I had a flight back home I began to take a look at the costs to head down to Ghana.  I have been to the Euro Cup in 2000 in Belgium and to World Cup in Germany in 2006.  Why wouldn’t I add the Africa Cup of Nations to my worldlist?

Costa Rica to Nigeria-natural next steps

So after my Habitat For Humanity trip in Costa Rica, I did the natural next step for Singh Around the World-- I hopped a plane and went to Abuja, Nigeria. Gentle readers- you are probably asking why Costa Rica to Nigeria? I assure you there is method to my madness.

In October of 2007, I was invited by the Center for Advanced Study for International Development (CASID) at Michigan State University to be part of delegation that was creating a partnership between MSU and Jos University in Jos, Nigeria had received a federal grant to develop the partnership between the two universities.

The first phase of the grant provided resources for 14 Nigerian professionals that were in governmental and nonprofit positions to come to the United States for an intensive professional development program.  The Nigerian delegation came to East Lansing for three weeks in the fall 2007 and CASID organized a number of seminars as well as site visits to provide a broad perspective on American local government and nonprofit management.  The Nigerian delegation also had the opportunity to visit Washington, DC.

I had the opportunity to present at two seminars during their stay at Michigan State University.  The first session was in my capacity as Mayor of East Lansing.  I, along with Ted Staton (East Lansing’s City Manager), presented on the topic of local government and its role in providing services and its relationship to the state and federal government.  The second session was in my role with the Michigan Nonprofit Association.  The session was an overview on the nonprofit sector and its relationship with government.  One of my colleagues at the Michigan Nonprofit Association also presented a session on nonprofit best practices.

The dialog during the sessions was very rich.  Issues of the role of federal government in relationship to local government were a hot topic.  Because Nigeria’s experiment with federalism and democracy is at the beginning stage, many of the issues our founding fathers debated and we take for granted were the issues of day in Nigeria.  Though we were there to present, the conversation was more of a group discussion and I found myself learning as much as I was teaching.

The delegation visit was not on the original itinerary for Singh Around the World.  Actually- I was supposed to go to Brazil for Carnivale.  But because of my experience with the original delegation, I jumped at the opportunity. The upcoming Nigeria Blogs will cover the first ten days of February 2008.