Academics in the Nigerian elections prove value of competence, integrity
What you need to know:
- But academic competence is not just about academic qualifications. It is critically also about integrity, humility, self-assuredness, and measured application of knowledge.
- The media has gone on to confirm this proclamation by putting on national TV self-proclaimed professors, some of whom lack the necessary competence in the areas they comment on.
- If they have the training, they speak with an eye on political correctness and to please those in power. Consequently, they come through as lacking depth and often are too pedestrian to be informative.
The just concluded Nigerian elections confirmed that where academic competence is fittingly utilised, academics can be of positive value for society.
But academic competence is not just about academic qualifications. It is critically also about integrity, humility, self-assuredness, and measured application of knowledge.
We teach this critical lesson at the African Leadership Centre and Prof Attahiru Jega, the chairman of the Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, confirms that it is possible to embody these desirable qualities.
I have never met Jega. But his name and writings have been a towering presence in my networks. His writings reflect a deep social justice awareness and commitment. This commitment predates his chairmanship of the INEC. His works are distinguished by their acuity.
This is especially significant because he belongs to that discipline — political science — that many state officials ridicule. This week, we confirmed through him that it is indeed possible to study political science and engage practically in the political experience of managing elections and be distinguished in both.
MAKING MINCED MEAT OF PROFESSORS
I reiterate this obvious point for Kenyan academics because we seem starved of similar examples. Former President Daniel arap Moi socialised us to believe that there can be no political science professor who can be an effective political player.
He went around making mince meat of professors and proclaimed himself the real professor of politics. We have repeatedly and unashamedly parroted the same lines in affirmation.
The media has gone on to confirm this proclamation by putting on national TV self-proclaimed professors, some of whom lack the necessary competence in the areas they comment on.
If they have the training, they speak with an eye on political correctness and to please those in power. Consequently, they come through as lacking depth and often are too pedestrian to be informative.
President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Jega in June 2010. Jega was soon confirmed by the Senate. Anyone who has followed Jega’s way of managing Nigeria’s electoral process, both in 2011 and 2015, knows that the professor has distinguished himself.
He has made measured decisions and demonstrated fairness and transparency even after someone composed a song in Hausa that wished him the worst anyone can wish you.
Jega has also embodied poise, conscientiousness, and measured application of political understanding. More important, he has been firm in taking challenging decisions.
POSTPONE ELECTIONS
Jega postponed the 2011 elections and publicly acknowledged the challenges INEC faced. Nigerians listened to him, understood, dissented or protested but patiently waited for the new polling day.
In February, following immense pressure from the security apparatuses, he issued a thoughtful statement to postpone the elections. He acknowledged that while INEC is responsible and ready for elections, it does not operate alone in guaranteeing free and fair polling.
In this statement, Jega took the considered view that no elections would happen if the other arm of state could not guarantee security. You have to read that cleverly written statement, compare it with a commentary published locally on February 15, 2015, which concluded that the elections were postponed due to concerns over Boko Haram, for you to appreciate the difference between thoughtful commentary and armchair speculation. Surely, Kenya can do without this cretinism.
The accolades to Jega should not be surprising. He has an enviable pedigree as a former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and as a former vice-chancellor of Bayero University in Kano, Nigeria.
He has also served in a committee on elections in Nigeria. Jega has a consistent story that confirms him as an astute intellectual and a man with a clear sense of integrity. One prays for a similar situation in Kenya where academic excellence and integrity are treated as natural twins.
Godwin Murunga is Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi
