Democratic Lessons From America
For countries, especially those in the third world seeking to embrace democratic culture, the right place to be is the United States of America. A country that has gradually risen to beat Greece to claim the title of the cradle of democracy. With its over 200 years of democratic experience, successive U. S. governments have not relented in their continuous push for democratisation across the world as Olasubomi Iginla, who was recently a guest of the U S government, in this encounter with Joseph Ushigiale narrates
Every year, embassies of the United States' Government evolve programmes directed at pushing for the entrenchment of democratic values across the world. Using various criterions, the United States Department selects its participants from target countries to attend the programmes slated for prescribed durations ranging from weeks to months.
This year, the US government, after a painstaking selection process which started last year finally picked Olasubomi Iginla to represent Nigeria.
According to Iginla, the visit was to participate in a programme with the theme: CITIZEN'S PARTICIPATION IN A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM - and it is basically designed by the US State Department to help other nations have a better understanding of what democracy should be. Its focus is to mobilise the citizens' into getting involved and to remind them of what is expected of them citizens. The programme also afforded all participating nations to learn from each other, democratic values that could help them in their respective countries.
She maintained that out of the 18 countries from where the different participants were drawn only five African countries, Nigeria, Namibia, Zambia Zimbabwe and Uganda were invited. Other non-African countries that made up the team were, India, Pakistan, Colombia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Albania, Yemen, Peru, Venezuela, Serbia/Montenegro/Kosovo.
Iginla narrated that "our journey started from Washington where we were received by volunteers, representatives of the government, private and public sector. Here, different programmes were organised for us. For example during our tour of Washington, we were exposed to different professional speakers who dwelled mostly on the theme of the programme.
We moved to other states around the U.S. where we were given the opportunity to interact freely with citizens. We had a feel of the community college, from where most of their political leaders emerged, and had trainings facilitated by a combination of political leaders, city mayors and professors.
At a point, all the participating countries were subdivided into groups and we were sent to different states across the U. S. to monitor the primary elections. I was sent to Bozeman Montana to monitor elections alongside participants from Bulgaria, Kosovo, Peru and Zimbabwe."
Iginla said she came face-to-face with robust discourse by the highly enlightened American people on a wide range of issues. "My observations at the polling station were quite revealing. To start with, I was unable to identify security operatives at the station, I saw that people felt responsible to others in the community and that a disabled could exercise a franchise or delegate civic responsibilities through another person.
I also discovered different people who came there with their various views on matters that concern them. The issues were basede on which candidates to vote for based on his positions on the marriage act, this as it relates to gay marriages. I also saw people trying to get others see reason while tax should be increased to meet some basic needs in education, healthcare, transport system.
For them, these could only be achieved if more taxes are paid. I was dazzled by the seeming patriotic response from the American citizens, it then dawned on me that the citizens could only do this if they had faith in there leaders and such unwavering faith could only come if they were definitely seeing how the taxes were been utilised."
Iginla said another side of the American society was "how responsive the people were towards the up-keep of their various communities. With these, I came to the conclusion that the possible secret of their success was imbued in their selfless commitment to their country and communities. Such attributes, I am sure, could also go a long way to assist us here in Nigeria."
She said societal thinking is not a one-way affair, "I saw those who think that the prevailing tax should remain the way it is. I was shocked to discover the matured way people handled their different shades of opinion and was greatly surprised by the calm atmosphere of the polling station which is a sharp contrast to what obtains in Nigeria."
Iginla noted that "people expressed their views freely and maturely,"asserting that the experience was far reaching and invaluable. She observed that it is impracticable in Nigeria for people to vote on behalf of the disabled or aged members of their family. "I was later to be informed that people in such categories are usually allowed to indicate the names of those they wish should represent them on the election day."
Iginla also mirrored the rights of the American citizens regarding such key areas as freedom of expression and liberty. "I had the opportunity of meeting Conseption, a woman, who since 1981, volunteered to leave the comfort of her home to domicile in front of the White House, the equivalent of Aso Rock Villa in Nigeria.
"She said She migrated from Spain to settle in the U. S. to pursue the major subject of her campaign - global peace. She hopes that her campaign would help in getting the American government to stop its involvement in wars and the use of nuclear armament."
On the woman's choice of struggle, Iginla said "I was really moved by the woman's passion. To me, she symbolizes what I saw as passion, I was touched especially when she recounted to me on how she got arrested several times and how, with each arrest, she was maltreated by the security officials. From her account, I came to realise that She could be allowed to remain in front of the White House, but during this time, she must only sit and not lay down. With such provision, Conseption told me she has had to, since 1981, always slept astanding because the security agents in front of the White House would not allow any one to lie flat while and sleep around the area. She has had to subject her self to the most dehumanizing conditions and treatment, all in the bid to pass on her message to the leaders and all who care to listen."
She said the communal system practised there as exemplified in the food bank, another community based project formed to provide for the unemployed and jobless, inspired her. According to her, 97% of those that work there are volunteers with only about 3% employed as staff. "I met both young and old people actively involved in the volunteer efforts and they all expressed their delight at making life meaningful for others. The lesson is that Nigerians could also be encouraged to get involved in such volunteer efforts for national cohesion."
On the gains of the programme, Iginla pointed out that "for me, it is unquantifiable. There are great lessons from this trip and I feel strongly that the programme has the propensity to inspire future leaders from developing countries and help shape their views for good governance. The organisers have not failed, rather the aim of the project has been achieved, if the responses of participants from their various countries are a yardstick for measurement."
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