Nigeria: 2022 and the Lasting Lessons of Politics and Nation, By Dakuku Peterside

The country's young citizens are not shy about advocating for their political interests online, and social media is almost the most militant political space in Nigeria. The democratization of public space has enabled the voiceless to be heard. Many people who until now may not have had access to mainstream media are constantly voicing their political views and consuming the opinions of others on social media. The ultimate lesson is that this wave of tech-driven change can only continue and isn't slowing down anytime soon.

The year 2022 is drawing to a close. High-level political activities characterize it – from the dramatic to the absurd. Political maneuvering and abracadabra were also commonplace. On the eve of crucial general elections in Nigeria, 2022 is ending in a cacophony of optimism, cynicism and ambivalence. This year has tested all our assumptions about democracy, nation building and good governance.

But we can reflect, that is, assuming that we learn from our experiences and use the lessons learned. Reflection helps us better understand our country and the emerging world around us.

There are five major lessons we can learn from this year.

The first lesson is that the politics of money has taken hold in Nigeria. Money was instrumental in determining the success or failure of candidates for political office in party primaries at all levels and in all political parties. The wave of defections from one party to another was provoked and cemented by money.

The momentum and depth of the election campaign so far has been shaped by the amount of money available to candidates, and the dominant underlying strategy of some parties is to buy votes. Recent off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states have been characterized by vote buying.

There is empirical evidence that vote buying tends to be more prevalent in poorer societies, although a distinction has also been made between programmatic and non-programmatic distributive politics. Nigerian voters are mostly poor and their votes are ready-made commodities they trade to earn some cash to fund their next meal.

Everything indicates that the general elections of 2023 will be marred by the negative influence of money on our politics. Even the recent overhaul of the naira by the CBN is seen as a ploy to lessen the monetary impact on the 2023 general election. in elections goes to the very heart of democracy because it destroys the very basis of democratic elections, which is that citizens must freely choose those who exercise power in their own name."

Reducing or eliminating cash incentives is critical to the success of the 2023 elections. The government and INEC have a duty to Nigerians to hold credible, free and fair elections next year. All measures must be put in place to discourage vote buying and other forms of clientelism. Politicians and their agents are rarely punished for this despicable act of purchasing power.

I expect INEC to intensify the education of citizens on the destructive effects of money on the democratic process. Informed citizens will deny the evil acts of politicians who plan to rig elections by buying votes. We must ensure that democratic principles and principles always permeate the fabric of our elections, and 2023 should present the pinnacle of electoral probity and fairness.

The gradual degeneration of security across Nigeria has profound implications for growth and economic well-being...