By Rev. Fr. Joshua Yima Achir, Coordinator, JDPC Kaduna
May I begin by thanking the organizers of this forum for inviting me to share my view on the topic The Lay Faithful and Democratic Experience in Kaduna State. It is indeed timely especially as we look ahead to the 2023 General Elections, which are only a few months away – 97 days to be exact. It is safe to say the elections are upon us.
According to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, Polling Units will open at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, 25th February, 2023 for National Elections (Presidential and National Assembly) and two weeks later, on Saturday, 11th March, 2023 for State elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly). For him, as a pledge of loyalty, the 7th General Elections since the restoration of Democracy in Nigeria in 1999 (23 years ago) will be free, fair, credible and verifiable elections supported by the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). This is indicative of the fact that the forthcoming election may take a different dimension and engender hope in the electorate and faith in the electoral process. How then do we as lay faithful contribute our quota to this venture? Before we attempt an answer, I must confess my worry before this assembly. The political climate at the moment is a thing of worry; there are palpable tensions here and there: the insecurity in the country, the number of internally displaced persons, the number of those already disenfranchised, the number of alleged damaged or burnt permanent voter cards, allegations of ongoing vote – buying, the alleged registration of children in the Northern part of the country as eligible voters by INEC, the burning of INEC offices, the unguarded utterances of political actors and their supporter on the campaign trail, are all a thing of concern.
Kaduna State, created on 27th May, 1967 as North Central State and renamed Kaduna State on 17th March, 1976, is one of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that falls within the present North West geopolitical zone. Since the return to Democracy in 1999, the state has had about five governors, who in one way or another have created some impact. This statement presupposes that leaders leave a piece of themselves when they leave public office; this impression may either be good or bad. We can assess and score the various administrations of Ahmed Makarfi (29th May 1999 – 29th May 2007), Mohammed Namadi Sambo (29th May 2007 – 19th May 2010), Late Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa (20th May 2010 – 15th December 2012), Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (15th December 2012 – 29th May 2015) and, Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai (29th May 2015 till date). Kaduna State is what it is today; bedeviled by bottled up religious tensions, insecurity, mutual distrust, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, impunity, lack of respect for human life, disregard for the sanctity and dignity of the human person. Should we just sit and agonize? No! We have to begin to organize.
Of the 96,303,038 registered voters (RVs) in the country, Kaduna State ranks third (as in 2019 but this time around) with 4,411,723 RVs after Lagos (7,155,929) and Kano (6,026,850). Included in this total is the 479,231 new voters registered in the just concluded Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise. What does this figure leave us with? It leaves us with deep reflection on what role to play in ensuring smooth elections and effecting the change we desire.
WHO ARE THE LAY FAITHFUL?
The Church simply recognises the lay faithful as persons who are baptized into the Church, who have a secular quality and whose functions in the Church differ from those who are ordained. The term “laity” appeared for the first time in the writing of Clement of Rome. It also appeared in the writing of Clement of Alexandria as well as in that of Origen. It was only after the year 220 that the term “laity” became more frequently used. From the beginning of the third century, the two terms “clergy” and “laity” became suddenly significant terms in the Church and their usage became more common.
WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?
The ancient Greeks were the first to create a democracy. The word ‘democracy’ comes from two Greek words ‘demos’ which means people and ‘kratos’ which means ‘rule’. Athenians first used the word democracy (rule by the people) to define their new system of government.
Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. (https://www.Merriam-Webster.com). In other words, it is a government constituted by the people; a government whose mandate to govern resides with the people. It is the people and for the people alone that such a government exists and serves, and the people here are the citizenry of a political community.
In Nigeria, democracy seems to have a different definition. It is more like the mandate does not belong to the people; as the bulk of the population is marginalized in the actual business of the state. The so-called representatives represent themselves. They seem to serve their selfish interest with the national / state cake. One problem I find people treat government offices even in a democracy as their personal property and so can do whatever they want not minding whose ox is gored.
WHAT IS THE ROLE/RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LAY FAITHFUL IN THE GOVERNANCE OF KADUNA STATE?
Through Baptism every Christian receives a noble mission: bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Because baptism makes us part of Christ’s body, which is the church, each Christian has a particular part to play in fulfilling God’s plan for the world. The lay faithful are called to participate in the life of the church and the world. In the church they have responsibilities at the family, parish and diocesan levels and beyond, such as exercising liturgical roles e.g. lay readers, altar servers, choir members, providing catechesis, consulting in financial matters, participating in pastoral council meeting, holding positions in a diocese etc. These are a few examples of the many responsibilities the laity might have within the church. Besides the aforementioned, the lay faithful play even a bigger role in the governance of the country and state to which they belong.
The CCC states that “it is necessary that ALL participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. Obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person… As far as possible, citizens should take active part in public life.” Being actively involved in the electoral process is a demand of patriotism, an important religious virtue of piety. Whatever situation there is, in Nigeria and Kaduna state, whether good or bad, it will remain so except the lay faithful become actively involved in matters of governance. To turn the situation around for the common good, they must begin to play grassroots politics by being card – carrying members of political parties in order for their voices to be heard. Candidates who eventually become flag bearers for the various political parties are chosen during party meetings and conventions and these are presented to the public in the general elections. Non-involvement by the lay faithful leaves them no room to influence the choice of flag bearers by political parties.
The Vademecum for Electors in Nigeria reminds us that our refusal to actively participate in the electoral process poses great danger to our ability to truly practice and carry out our mission or contribute to the common good, thus we might be forced to sacrifice our faith, our fundamental teachings and moral principles. The CBCN enjoins all to actively participate in the electoral process: “It is the noble right and serious duty of every responsible citizen to do what he can towards the establishment, maintenance and successful operation of a good government… everyone with the right to vote does have the opportunity, which should be exercised responsibly, to help form, mandate and direct his government.”
As patriotic citizens, the lay faithful are to use their votes for the common good of Nigeria as opposed to the good of a particular party, group or individual. They are to acquire their permanent voters card (PVC) to be able to vote. They are to vote according to a well-informed conscience; in accordance with the highest human values without allowing themselves to be pressured or unduly influenced by anyone through bribes, threats, self-interest, etc. They are to vote for candidates who are God fearing, accountable to the electorate for the common good in respect of right of family, property, freedom of religion, security, education, health, etc. They are to use their votes to make sure that the right persons in their judgment are elected. They are to maintain a proper relationship between the political community and the church. They must know, as a matter of fact, that the social message of the gospel must not be considered a theory but a basis and a motivation for action.
WHO THEN SHOULD GO INTO POLITICS OR RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICES?
The lay faithful who is of proven integrity, who understands the purpose of government and are ready to serve with sincerity of purpose. She must know that government exists for service to the people and nothing more. Unfortunately, the existing indices of quality of life, availability of basic amenities, and infrastructure do not bear such expectations of service. To change this narrative, one must have the zeal to cleanse the system with the common man and the common good in mind. Those who intend to run for government offices and public life must put aside selfishness and self aggrandizement. They must be people known for fulfilled promises. They must not be wolves in sheep’s clothing.
SOURCES
Catechism of the Catholic Church
CBCN, Civil and political responsibility
Serving the common good of society by Uchechukwu Obodoechina
Vademecum for Electors in Nigeria by CATHAN
Vatican II
