Are academics opposing good governance?

POLITICAL  participation has been steadily declining in well-established democracies and the rate has been on a serious increase in Nigeria recently. Low voter turnout has been a serious issue and a major concern among citizens irrespective of religion, class and ethnic background. Democracy, a modern political system, spread to other continents outside of North America and Western Europe, and Africa is not exempted; some previously undemocratic nations such as Nigeria have now embraced democratic ideals and principles. Despite the perceived benefits of this system to humankind, the majority of the elites and professional groups are declining from active participation in politics and these hardly vote in general elections. The social history of intellectuals from the medieval period through to the enlightenment era and to contemporary times shows that in virtually all the political struggles, the intellectuals and professionals have no hiding place.

Although many of the academics become upset and angry with the government leaders and policies, some are concerned seriously about major economic, social and political problems. Some groups (ASUU or SSANU) organise serious protests on economic and education policies and the deteriorating conditions of our physical environment but hardly vote or participate actively in politics to instil good governance. Many of them even believe that it is satanic to participate actively in the political and democratic activities. Whereas in every modern democratic society, votes have become the basic instrument used to change a bad government or a bad leader to a better one. The elites usually show a nonchalant attitude during democratic processes and towards opposing the prevailing socio-economic problems. Considering the various roles of academics in political motivation and mobilisation over the years, and in the struggle for good governance, one will expect a greater participation in all facets of democratic processes.

Their roles in societal transformation have become a story of the past. In every society, the public considers them as their souls and consciences, the reservoirs of knowledge and ideas, the vanguard of struggle for good governance because they are both more aware and more socially skilled than most other groups in the society. They are sets of people who are in good positions to recognise social problems and take effective steps towards solutions.  Periodic elections provide the basic opportunity to change corrupt leaders and vote in leaders that will be transparent, accountable to the electorate and carry the masses along in the democratic journey. The needed political change may not occur and corrupt leaders can continue to perpetuate themselves in power if the segment of people who are an embodiment of literacy and academics per excellent is left behind. Despite the many pragmatic reasons that favour active participation and for which one might expect everyone to regularly participate in elections, this set of intelligent group folds their hands. For instance, the Federal Government of Nigeria prepares trillions of money every year as an annual budget, and spend even more on programmes and policies that not everyone may approve of. They also make policy decisions of great importance, including the decision on wages that affect all segments, groups or professionals and even all sectors of the economy.

However, effective participation influences the leaders; it affects the character, style and principles of public leaders. In fact, if one ends up on the losing side during an election process, a vote expresses a citizen’s values and signals his or her preferences for other citizens and political actors. The importance of participation in good governance cannot be over-emphasised because of the distinct fact that the beauty of the democratic system lies in majority participation. Considering the previous roles of academics in political motivation, mobilisation, especially the struggle for good governance and entrenchment of democratic rule, one would expect their greater participation. Unfortunately, the majority shy away from partisan politics and sometimes do not even vote in local and general elections. The question is, are they really being effective in helping to achieve social and political goals in the society? They are expected to direct the flow of events based on their superior understanding of social reality.

Right from the selection of Popes, Holy Roman emperors in ancient Athens to Western Europe and North America in the 17th century, even to the period of universal suffrage in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, people served as sources of authority and the majority dictates major policy outcomes and decisions. However, democracy remains a principle of the mastership of the people and that master is an absolute and a supreme authority. The key role of citizens in the democracy is to participate actively in public matters and watch carefully how their political leaders and representatives use their powers to express common opinions and interests. It must be noted at this juncture that democracy is not based on the quality of the citizens that vote but on the quantity, and irrespective of the quality and intelligence of the leaders, they steer the ship of the state to its destination. Inefficient and corrupt persons get themselves elected and retain power against the best set of people with intelligence, vision and strength of character. Political apathy on the part of academics becomes unfit for intellectual progress and search for scientific truths.

Many advocates of democracy regard the failure of this segment of citizens in an effective participation as a drawback and threat to democratic survival and legitimacy of such government in power. According to a Yoruba adage ‘bi a ba fi okuiya asinwin da, o le yaje tan’ literarily means ‘if we leave a madman with the corpse of his/her mother, he/she may decide to eat her raw’.

• Dr Fatai teaches at the Department of Sociology, Osun State University, Osogbo.