THE FALLACY OF DIARCHY - POST EXPRESS
olorunfemi ojo
Category: Editorial
Date of Article: 08/08/98
Topic: The Fallacy of Diarchy
Author: Iloka Ifedi
Full Text of Article:
DIARCHY has been suggested as a pragmatic way of resolving the incessant
political instability in Nigeria. It is a formula by which civilians and the
military share the governance of the country in equal terms. The Army is
therefore introduced into the political administration of the country on
permanent basis. The rationale of the odd arrangement is the hope that by
such participation, the ambition for political power on the part of the
military might be contained. The proposal hit the headlines when the great
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe raised it in a Sunday newspaper of 29th October 1972.
Since then, it has generated intense debate and widespread controversy. One
political association lately reflected that concept in its manifesto.
The diarchy formula is simply an arrangement of expediency. Its proponents
expect that it will solve our stability crisis and give the nation a
breathing space to move forward. But does it provide a lasting solution to
contemporary Nigeria's political crisis? Diarchy is at best a palliative not
a panacea. If the army as an institution is introduced into governance as of
right, why not other institutions or professions? Afterall, the Nigeria
Police, the academia or the Church is as entitled to a share of political
authority as the Armed Forces. Experience elsewhere shows that expedient
accommodation of this sort may create more problems than they solve. A
soldier interested in partisan politics should relinquish his appointment
and go into politics like any other citizen. This is the vogue in the United
States of America, Israel and nearer home in Ghana and Chad. It is a better
way than participating in governance through the back door.
Another reality in diarchy is that the presence of some military people in
government will not stop others outside it from nursing ambitions for
political power. Nigeria has experienced several coups d'etat against
military governments. As a matter of fact, such coups are usually more
bloody than revolts against civilian governments. The lust for power, wealth
and positions induce military personnel to seize power by all means.
Civilians and the military are strange bedfellows as colleagues in
governance. There is a basic divergence in culture and orientation between
military and civilian rulers. The army is autocratic with an orientation
towards imposed order, command and a non-political approach to problems.
Civilians are political, accommodating and willing to bargain and compromise
conflicting positions. A combination of such incompatibles may not work
effectively and indeed harmoniously.
Proponents of diarchy insist that apart from direct participation of
soldiers in government, the system makes them "watchdogs over the conduct of
politics and public life." Advocates of this diarchy option presume that the
military are not partisan themselves or are immune from corruption.
Contemporary military personnel have practically lost their old claim to
morality or credibility. As a matter of fact, civilians now generally regard
the army as decadent.
Those who still regard the military as impartial or neutral are definitely
unrealistic. Soldiers are naturally affected by the virus of their
environment. We cannot pretend otherwise in the light of our experiences
over the last thirty two years.
Our best bet in Nigeria is to embrace democracy by trying to make it work
and learning from our mistakes and failures. It is a culture that developes
by trial and error. The political history of Europe, the United States of
America and Asia shows lessons in the struggle to instal democratic order.
Diarchy in any form will only deprive the people the benefits of the
learning process. Democracy may not be perfect, but diarchy is certainly not
its alternative. As Alfred Smith succintly affirmed: "All the ills of
democracy can be cured by more democracy."
Ifedi, writes from Satellite Town, Lagos.
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