We the People
In the past two years, the world has witnessed a rousing of public anger clearly visible through several anti-government protests, like never before! With each movement, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the messages of the protesters resonate in many ways with millions of foreign nationals around the world who stand in solidarity with those aggrieved. I personally followed the protests in Venezuela against the incumbent administration. Then there was the Black Lives Matter movement, which I have written about elsewhere. Hong Kong’s struggle has somehow held the world’s attention in an interesting way because as much as everyone else, I have watched with keen interest as protesters persevere and consistently come out in their numbers in spite of all dissent from the government. Only recently, in an unprecedented show of courage and heart, Nigerians have gone to the streets to register their displeasure with the conduct of a department of the Nigerian Police best known as SARS. So also, the Congolese who march against oppression and inhumane actions meted out to them by their government.
It is interesting to note at this point that, “we the people…” is a phrase shared in common between lots of democratic countries. It is one that suggests a perfectly represented people. It represents the backing of all those willing to be nationals of those respective countries, and a gentle reminder to any successive government that, “the people” will always be superior to the constitution.
Sadly, this has ceased to be the case in many countries. In March 2017, the government of Syria felt justified using chemical weapons on their citizens in what appears to be a continued occurrence since 2013. In Iran, government felt the need to tune out the voices of the people screaming for change, by shutting down the internet. Still, in Nigeria, government has opted for a show of force against peaceful protesters over the dialogue needed to commence national healing. At every turn, it is fast becoming obvious that a lot of governments have taken the phrase “we the people” to mean something other than what it was originally intended.
When the American founding fathers drafted the constitution at the convention in Philadelphia, they understood in univocal terms that the words “we the people” carried with them a solemn duty to the nation, a promise of eternal loyalty passed down from one generation to the next but, they also understood that such a union between the south and north, was only valid if government upheld its constitutional duty to at every point in time, serve, not stifle or become a threat to upstanding citizens. Same goes for the postcolonial leadership of Nigeria. First, it was a marriage of convenience between the north and south of what eventually became Nigeria. But at the conception of the Nigerian Constitution, all those involved in its drafting, unilaterally agreed to remain in the union and have a representative government that would never abuse its power. That dream has long since become just that. A dream.
How far we have derailed from those commitments. It is certainly painful to witness. Yet, government shows no respite in its desire to overpower and overshadow the citizens its sole duty is to represent. As seen in Syria, The Congo, Iran, the United States of America and now Nigeria, governments have resolved to use the entire offensive in their arsenals, to stifle civil society and discredit genuine cries for change and reform. All the while forgetting that the greatest legitimacy granted to any government has been perfectly coined in three words, “We the People” without which, every government formed begins to act outside the lines of legality, justice and legitimacy.
When the people groan under high handedness, the reaction shouldn’t be violent antics to scare them into submission. When they cry against corruption, the solution cannot be found in giving more juicy appointments to friends and cronies of those in power. If the ache in their hearts is about lack of basic amenities, the problem will only be compounded if the government decides to borrow heavily to finance infrastructure that would benefit the country’s enemies more than it would the people.
As I consider the events surrounding protests and how different governments around the world have chosen to respond, I am saddened at the realization that one common denominator in all these, is a glaring decrease in empathy, a virtue needed but seldom had in governance. We are slowly arriving at the tipping point where “we the people” would ask to return to the drawing board and renegotiate down to the minute details, our continued existence between the bounds of these unions. Until then, we persevere.