Segun Gbadegesin
What is going on in the land of the free and the home of the brave? How has the party of Lincoln, the party of emancipation, become the party of authoritarians and narcissists against free and fair election? Am I in a really bad dream or is what I am seeing and hearing for real?”
I cannot pretend to be clueless about where Opalaba was coming from. In the last four years, we have had on and off discussions over the twists and turns in the American democracy. We have both wondered what has become of the “oldest and greatest democracy” in modern history. But my friend has been the more passionate. For reasons that I cannot fathom, he has felt betrayed.
“Old chum, aren’t you carrying this thing too far? How has your gba ran mi become the eleru in this matter?” I interjected at the earliest opportunity. “What is your business in this matter?”
“Of course, you are right” Opalaba replied. “I am more than six thousand miles from the United States. I live in the heartland of Africa, the cradle of civilization, the center of humanity, the homeland of civility and respect for the dignity of human beings. I should not have to worry about the debasement of humanity elsewhere. So, forgive my intervention. But I recall that you have always being a champion of the American democracy. You have always called your readers’ attention to what democracy means using the American model. I still recall your essay on “Where democracy works” a few years ago. You called our attention to the age-old norms of transfer of power, the gracious concession speech of a loser and the inspiring acceptance speech of the winner. So, I ask you, where is that bragging right now?”
My friend continued: “I am reminded of that old folk song of our elders when they confront a messy situation which, in their wisdom, they had warned about: Mo da, mo da, bi yio ti ri naa ko yi, mo da, mo da. (I am good, I am fine. Is this how it has turned out?) Is this how the best democracy has turned out to be? Is this all there is to American exceptionalism? How can we now challenge our leaders here at home to do better?
Opalaba was going to continue but knowing that I couldn’t win the argument, I quickly intervened.
“You are right, my friend, and I didn’t mean to demean your passion about democratic norms. I have always been an incurable admirer of the American system of democratic republic. But I have always recognized the tendency for abuse in any human institution. It is worth noting, however, that while Americans have never created a perfect system, the world has, rightly or wrongly, looked up to what they have as a model to aspire to.”
Last week, this column’s focus was on the story of America’s journey of democracy, a journey that ostensibly prioritizes the creation of a “more perfect union.” That journey, sometimes sincere, often deceptive, has frequently come up against serious setbacks, not least of which is the deliberate efforts to deny to millions of citizens the right to participate in the democratic process. We saw that the system which we have come to recognize, respect, and applaud as the oldest democracy in modern history has always had a very dark unenviable side.
In fairness, the United States has always prioritized the creation, building, and strengthening of institutions, systems of rules and practices, which are expected to be strong enough to withstand any roguish attempts, including those aimed at sabotaging the pursuit of a more perfect union. Among these are the checks and balances provided by the three branches of government-presidency, congress, and the judiciary, the semi-autonomous and interdependent relations among the states and the central government, as well as a strong private sector, an economic tail that often wags the political dog.
The narrative that we are familiar with about America is that even when there is fierce political competition between political parties, liberty or freedom is the ideology common to all. It is the value that they are ready to defend to death. The second is the sanctity of the rule of law which respects no person and those who would dare to test the resolve of the nation to uphold the sacredness of the rule of law, no matter how highly placed they might be, have been known to regret it. President Nixon may be the most remembered of the villains, but he is hardly alone.
Since 2016, however, it appears that the American story has changed. For the better part of her existence, institutions have withstood the rise of strong men or women. Now, it appears that those same institutions are collapsing to the demagoguery of a strong man with a loyal base. A populist with diabolical intent has taken over and democracy and the rule of law are losing out. How can America brag about having the best democratic system when it is not respecting the will of the people at the polls?
Isn’t it tragic that at a time we should be celebrating the triumph of democracy in a free and fair election and honoring Joe Biden, the winner, while not despising the loser, we are now forced to wondering what has become of our bragging right?
Surely, there has always been recognized the right of a losing candidate to challenge the result of an election by asking for a recount or litigating perceived fraud. After Al Gore conceded in 2000, there were many complaints of ballot problems in Florida. He withdrew his concession and asked for a recount. The Supreme Court halted the recount and Gore conceded.
What we are experiencing now, however, is totally different. Here we have a candidate who has never hidden his intention to accept the result of any election only if he wins. During the Republican primaries in February 2016, Candidate Trump declared about the Iowa results: “Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus, either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified.” In his contest with Hillary Clinton in 2016, he infamously declined to commit to accepting the result. “We’ll have to see”, he insisted.
Fast forward to 2020, he is on record saying “I am not a good loser. I don’t like to lose.” This declaration should send a warning signal to his allies to ready themselves for the defence of democracy. If someone tells you that he is not a good loser, you have a responsibility to the system to counsel him and provide whatever emotional support he needs so that he doesn’t burn down the system.
But Trump didn’t stop at that declaration. He continued with a series of claims that were meant to cast doubt on the integrity of the election. Even though Republican States like Utah have been using mail-in ballot system over the years, Trump declared on August 2, that “there is no way you can go through a mail-in vote without massive cheating.” He himself, his family members and staff, have voted by mail over the years.
On August 17, Trump asserted that “the only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged.” On August 24, he railed: “The only way they can take this election away from us is if this is a rigged election.” And on September 13: “The Democrats are trying to rig this election because that’s the only way they’re going to win. In all these rantings, nobody asked him “well, in that case, why do we need an election in the first place? Shouldn’t you just be crowned as the Imperial Majesty?
In all these, Republican leaders didn’t ring the alarm bell. And now, they are all in with the conspiracy against democracy. They are counting on the conservative Supreme Court majority to take away the victory from Joe Biden. We have come full circle to Third World Democracy.
What a way to lose a bragging right! We are all human after all!
