Politics
China is Reaping the Harvest of Democracy
China is Reaping the Harvest of Democracy
By: Olalekan A. Babatunde
This opinion is coming on the heels of the United States’ preparation to host more than 100 participants in the initial “Summit for Democracy” from 9-10 December 2021. World leaders, along with civil society and private-sector representatives will meet virtually in “renewing democracy in the United States and around the world”. According to James M. Goldgeier and Bruce W. Jentleson in the Politico (5 December), “the summit was never a good idea…” While making reference to the January 6 insurrection, attacks on election officials and ongoing systematic efforts by Republicans in a number of states to curtail voting rights, the authors feared that “the U.S. had questionable credibility to position itself as a leading democracy. “
Determining who is suitably democratic to make the list has already created criticisms and tension. Critics are of the opinion that the list seems to divide the world into “good guys and bad guys.” The entire concept of a democracy summit relies on an overly ideological approach to managing the global agenda. For instance, while Hungary and Turkey are not invited, backsliding democracies such as Poland, the Philippines, Brazil, India and Pakistan on the list raised concerns. Their undemocratic practices have grown worse over the past year. Hungary, the only E.U. a member left out, has already said it is excluded and penalized for its closeness to former President Donald Trump.
Just like other genuine observers of the development, China has legitimately argued “the U.S. has no right to monopolize democratic standards to impose its own political system on others and to instigate division and confrontation under the guise of democracy. “ According to its Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, “democracy is the common value of all mankind and the right of all peoples.” Of course, he is right. For a country with a feudal history, China has provided leadership in realizing people’s democracy.
Long before many nations evolved popular sovereignty, freedom and political equality, China has been practicing elective democracy. It was the Communist leader Mao Zedong that introduced New Democracy or New Democratic Revolution, a concept of Bloc of Four Social Classes theory in post-revolutionary China underpinning the fact that democracy in China would take a path that was decisively distinct from that in any other country. Today, China’s version of democracy is consultative, with voting permitted at the very local level and public feedback collected before any law is implemented.
In the words of John Ross, former director of economic and business policy for the Mayor of London on China’s framework and delivery on human rights and democracy, said China is “ far superior to the West’s”, as China focuses on real improvement of the real conditions of humanity. While dialogue on democracy is necessary, the idea behind the event raises fundamental questions. What should democracy be all about? What should be the normative end of democracy? Whose system is delivering democratic outcomes? Is China a democracy or not? It is important to provide some explanation.
When the concepts of democracy as a form of government originated in ancient Athens (Greece) circa 508 B.C. none could ever fathom how thousands of years later the Greek system of direct democracy would pave the way for representative democracies across the globe. The point of departure or contention has often been the designations of whether one’s version of democracy is liberal, direct or pure, indirect or representative or electoral. As democracy varies from peoples, regions, religions and cultures, it is important to underscore the fact that every nation has its own system of democracy.
Whatever it is, nations evolved their own system in line with their socio-economic and political conditions-history, culture, tradition and so on. For example, the Swiss cantons and towns evolved people’s assemblies while the Chinese developed theirs. Also if democracy can be exported, Tunisia where the Arab Spring began and Afghanistan would have been perfect examples. But the effectiveness of governance itself is the yardstick of popular government. Today, socialist democracy has built prosperous China in line with the Chinese characteristics. It is not that China had not experimented with the western parliamentary, multiparty and presidential systems after its 1911 Revolution. But they failed.
With the founding of CPC in 1921, an illumination towards democracy was born. China is one of the countries that have advanced their own form of democratic rule. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and has never stopped pursuing democratic dividends for the people. All along, the Chinese people were at the centre of the struggle. So the end of feudal-autocratic rule gave way for the establishment of a democratic republic. The three decades of political development during the “reform and opening-up” period when socialist democracy and the rule of law were advanced ushered China into a new era.
This is the “Whole-Process People’s Democracy” under the CPC leadership. This sounds all encompassing by integrating process-oriented democracy with results-oriented democracy, procedural democracy with substantive democracy, direct democracy with indirect democracy, and people’s democracy with the will of the state. According to Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng, “China’s whole-process people’s democracy is not the kind that wakes up at the time of voting and goes dormant afterwards.” Also, the State Council Information Office of China says it is a model of socialist democracy that covers all aspects of the democratic process and all sectors of society. Again, it is the people that elect their leaders. There are nine political parties including CPC in China today but a multi-party cooperation system in which CPC exercises state power. These other parties participate fully in the administration of state affairs under the leadership of the CPC.
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Yet, the CPC under president Xi has reinforced and reformed party politics and government institutions in accordance with democratic norms and rule of law. There are also active roles being played by think tanks and united fronts at the grassroots level up to national level in the development of democratic governance and the rule of law in China. They engage and educate policymakers, media and the public on policy issues, and thereby help bridge the gap between policymakers and the public. In fact, according to the 2014 Global Go To Think Tanks Index Report, Asia (with China) has 16.71% in the global distribution of think tanks by region while North America has 30.05% and Sub-Saharan Africa 7.06%.
A few of these reforms are the modernisation of China’s governance system and capacity, strengthening CPC’s overall leadership, managing over 1.4 billion population with 56 ethnic groups, advancing democratic elections, robust and widespread consultations, decision-making, management and oversight, and promoting political stability, unity and vitality. Power is derived bottom-up. That is, from the people or grassroots. Participation and liberty is high. There are local people’s congresses at all levels. Townships, provinces and national levels have congresses where over 2 million representatives are elected in agreement with the Chinese founding fathers and leaders’ vision. All administrative, supervisory, judicial and procuratorial organs of the state are created by the people’s congresses, to which they are responsible and by which they are supervised. The National People’s Congress (NPC) is the highest organ of state power and is controlled by the National Committee.
Elections in China are extensive and cover all aspects of the country’s political and social life. They include elections to government institutions, villagers and urban residents committees, and employees congresses in enterprises and public institutions. Elections in China are based on equality, and the people’s right to vote and stand for election is fully guaranteed. Each person can cast one vote, and all votes are of equal value. Elections in China are genuine and not manipulated by financial interests. Voters are free to vote for the candidates they trust. The above summary of key democratic organs and processes are enabling China to efficiently and effectively discharge and oversee its day-to-day socio-economic and industrial activities within the country and far beyond. Decision-making procedures and government’s accountability to the people are made easy.
The resultant democratic outcomes for the people are huge. Some of them are worth mentioning. Besides having successfully tamed the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, China has ended absolute poverty by lifting the last 80 million people. It is a unified multi-ethnic state. The Chinese at the grassroots level, employees at private and public institutions exercise democratic rights. This helps to coordinate the interests of multiple stakeholders, mitigate conflict, and maintain social stability and harmony at the grassroots level. Many successful grassroots experiences and practices have eventually turned into national policies, injecting new vitality into the development of China’s democracy.
A modern prosperous society with the spate of a few decades is beyond many imaginations in the world. A democracy that wheeled the engine of the 4th industrial revolution has propelled China from the 7th economy to 2nd prosperous economy in the world. A visitor to China can easily decipher democratic ideals and freedom across the country. Many other countries’ nationalities cannot claim to enjoy the kind of freedom the Chinese have.
Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore once said, “The ultimate test of a political system is whether it improves the standards of living for the majority of people.” China has profoundly proved that democracy can be a tool for human development. It has brought rapid development within the country and around the world. With its presence in over 2/3 of the world through bilateral and multilateral cooperation and trade, China respects other people’s democracy and freedom. It does not interfere with internal politics of the host country.
Therefore, as the democracy summit is exposing the fissures of the world, it is also revealing the weakness in our ability to reckon with other popular governments that are working elsewhere. It also uncovers the hypocrisy in us. We trade and invest in the countries not on the summit list. China’s own model of democracy is worth paying attention to. Many western scholars, diplomats and media have already paid attention to this type of governance that delivers coherent and long-term outcomes of what a true government should be. True democracy is effective governance that is solving problems but not held by political gridlock, corruption and theatrical distractions.
Participating in the new discussions on democracy is a welcome one but it should afford others to lay out their successes and failures in democracy. This is what a genuine meeting on democracy ought to be. The world is in dire need of pragmatic democratic leadership that will pursue peaceful development, protect people’s rights and promote freedom, and help to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and climate change regardless of race, gender, faith and region. As President Joe Biden has said, “Democracy doesn’t happen by accident, we have to defend it, fight for it, strengthen it, renew it.” That was exactly what China has done. They consciously developed their model of democracy, defended it against subversions, and strengthened it with their characteristics. What the people are enjoying now is the fruits of democracy.
*Dr. Babatunde is a fellow, peacebuilding and evidence practitioner at the Nigeria’s Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja.
China is Reaping the Harvest of Democracy
Fubara Declares Support for Tinubu, Chinda, Says Rivers Political War Is Over
By: Michael Mike
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has announced his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition and the governorship aspiration of Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, saying political differences in the state have been resolved and that the time for confrontation is over.
Fubara made the declaration on Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Riven Medical Industries Project in Port Harcourt, where he said previously opposing political camps in Rivers had reached an understanding to work together for peace and development.
The governor said he had aligned with the “Rainbow Coalition,” a political movement associated with former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and urged his supporters across the state to support candidates under the platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We have made peace in the state and I am supporting our Rainbow Coalition. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our president, and is the one we are supporting. OK Chinda is the governorship candidate that I am supporting and anybody who believes in me will support him and every other candidate that is under the Rainbow Coalition,” Fubara said.
He added that he had returned to the political family, insisting that Rivers State must move beyond past disagreements.
“I’ve gone back to our family. So, please, whoever you are, give your total support to the Rainbow Coalition. We need to move forward. The time of war is over. It is time for peace and this peace is taking us to another level,” he said.
Fubara urged his supporters not to claim allegiance to him alone but to support the broader political arrangement, stressing that he was committed to unity and stability in the state.
“I’m not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. I’ve done what I need to do and we are moving forward,” he stated.
The governor also used the occasion to highlight the significance of the Riven Medical Industries Project, describing it as a major step towards industrialisation, healthcare development, and economic expansion in Rivers State.
However, he warned investors against abandoning commitments after receiving government support, recalling past experiences where agreements with investors resulted in disputes and legal battles.
According to him, the state government approved the project because of confidence in the investors’ ability to revive the facility, create employment opportunities, and contribute to economic growth.
He tasked the investors to adhere strictly to project timelines, particularly ensuring the completion of the first phase within three months, while appealing to host communities and the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area leadership to provide an enabling environment for the project.
The Riven Medical Industries Project is a Public-Private Partnership between the Rivers State Government and Enbay Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, aimed at transforming the former Integrated Medical Industries (IMI) into a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.
When completed, the facility is expected to produce pharmaceutical formulations, gelatine capsules, intravenous infusions, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), boosting local drug production capacity and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported medicines.
The project is also projected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, promote technology transfer, attract investment, and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare supply chain.
The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with alliances and realignments expected to shape contests across states.
Fubara Declares Support for Tinubu, Chinda, Says Rivers Political War Is Over
Remain neutral during elections, Senate aspirant Bembella urges Nasarawa North elders
By: Bodunrin Kayode
The People’s Democratic Party PDP candidate for the Nasarawa North Senatorial zone, Madaki Bembella has appealed to the consciences of the elders in the zone to be neutral towards the up coming general election in the country.
Bembella, who is also the Waziri of Mada kingdom said it was in the interest of known elders to speak the truth at all times and maintaining their dignity when it comes to Mada kingdom and beyond adding that it is only then that the elders can easily be imitated by the younger ones.
The Mada chieftain in an exclusive interview with this reporter recently called on the elders to always speak in one voice regretting that there are some elders who should be sitting on their respected seats in line with their traditions with neutrality to guide the younger generation but sadly are still fixated at contesting for partisan politics.
“In my opinion, they should not be involved in politics again. They should rather sit down and direct the younger ones but the same people have relegated that position living a big gap sometimes with no one credible enough to fill.
“To my surprise also, elders are still participating in politics while some are still taking sides on sensitive issues where they are supposed to be neutral.” Said Bembella.
Bembella who is a household name in the Mada kingdom of Akwanga said that both the elders and younger generation should trust him in the elections because he has been tested in his service to humanity and has a shiny pedigree to show for it.
Why residents should trust him as their their next senator
On why residents of the zone should trust him with the office, he went on: “they should trust me by reason of my pedigree and also my track record as I contribute to humanity.
“We have good testimony of what we have been able to do both here in the headquarters of the zone and around the other areas.
” I have lived with people around here for the past 30 years and have not been found wanting. I have been tested to serve where I retired and gave a good account of myself.
“I have always had interests in politics especially the PDP since 1999. But I have used it to support politicians and party activities, it started around 2013 till date.
“That was when we started supporting individuals who have stakes in elections. But for full participation, I would say that started in 2024.and it will continue by God’s grace till I get to the Senate.”
As a traditional chieftain, he is also the Waziri of the Mada kingdom which is an influential position to hold in any kingdom and he actually plans to utilize his influence in the kingdom to account regularly on his achievements which he feels will bring the constituency up to speed with his actions.
On his message to the 35 electoral wards in the zone, he noted that he will work towards creating an assembly of the people in the three council areas of Wamba, Akwanga and Nasarawa Eggon so that the quality of representation will increase.
Akwanga he noted was supposed to have about 14 electoral wards but it has been brought down to eleven which the contestants have to contend with.
To the young people of the zone, Bembella advised them not to mortgage their future for pittance that desperate politicians share on elections day.
He urged them to avoid vote buying and progress beyond the anti partisan politicians who come with such freebies to compromise their lives and the entire electoral system.
Bembella is a fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria who has paid his dues in his service to humanity.
Remain neutral during elections, Senate aspirant Bembella urges Nasarawa North elders
2027 VP Certificate of Return: The Triumphant Shettima
By: Dr James Bwala
The formal presentation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) vice-presidential nomination certificate to Vice President Kashim Shettima by President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja marks a historic moment in Nigeria’s political landscape. This event is not merely ceremonial; it signifies the consolidation of a strategic political partnership and underscores the indispensable role of the vice presidency in national governance and electoral calculations. The critics who have underestimated the political significance of the vice-presidential office, relegating it to a position of symbolic presence confined to social functions, must now reconsider their stance. Vice President Kashim Shettima emerges not only as a formidable political figure but also as a master in governance, diplomacy, and relationship building, making him the ideal running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
The fallacy that Shettima serves only as a figurehead or mere attendee at weddings and funerals fails to appreciate the sophisticated political dynamics underlying such social engagements. In the complex web of Nigerian politics, public appearances at community events are far from trivial. They represent critical opportunities for leaders like Shettima to forge bonds, nurture trust, and demonstrate empathy with various constituencies. This aspect of grassroots engagement is very important for political sustainability and electoral success, especially in a nation as ethnically and regionally diverse as Nigeria.
READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/kashim-shettima-the-imperative-of-agricultural-revitalization-and-the-case-for-the-niger-deltas-agrarian-future/
Vice President Shettima’s approach over the past three years under President Tinubu’s administration exemplifies a transformative model of vice-presidential leadership. Unlike his predecessors, who often remained distant or disengaged from the public beyond official duties, Shettima has established himself as the most sociable and accessible vice president in Nigeria’s recent history. His consistent presence across the six geopolitical zones—attending significant social, religious, and cultural events—reflects a profound understanding of Nigeria’s sociopolitical fabric. This strategy has enabled him to cultivate a broad base of support that transcends ethnic and regional divides, an asset invaluable to any national campaign.
The ability to emotionally connect with people through shared experiences at weddings, funerals, and other communal gatherings creates a lasting impact that goes beyond superficial visibility. It stirs a deeper level of connection, fostering loyalty and goodwill towards the leadership. Shettima’s sensitivity to these moments has rendered him not just a political figurehead but a trusted representative of the people, fulfilling the crucial role of bridging government and citizenry. Such engagement is fundamental to democratic governance and a testament to his political acumen.
READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/kashim-shettima-the-imperative-of-agricultural-revitalization-and-the-case-for-the-niger-deltas-agrarian-future/
The lessons gleaned from Shettima’s network-building efforts reveal a nuanced grasp of power and influence unique for effective leadership. Politics, especially in a federal system like Nigeria’s, requires more than policy expertise; it demands strategic alliances and interpersonal relationships. Shettima’s success in cultivating friendships and collaborations among diverse political actors has strengthened both his profile and the APC’s reach. This extensive networking capacity reinforces his suitability as a vice-presidential candidate who can unite various factions and present a cohesive front in the 2027 elections.
The significance of Shettima’s receipt of the certificate of return extends beyond personal triumph; it symbolises the resilience of democratic processes within the APC and the broader Nigerian polity. Despite detractors and so-called “wishy-washers” who sought to undermine his candidature, the vice president’s nomination confirms the party’s confidence in his leadership qualities and electoral appeal. It sends a clear message that the vice-presidency is a vital component of executive power and electoral strategy—a partnership essential for steering Nigeria towards stability and progress.
READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/kashim-shettima-the-imperative-of-agricultural-revitalization-and-the-case-for-the-niger-deltas-agrarian-future/
In addition, Shettima’s persona as the “people’s vice president” and “Jagoran Arewa” (Leader of the North) impact deeply with the northern electorate and beyond. His background and proven track record furnish him with the legitimacy and moral authority to address regional concerns while maintaining national unity. This dual appeal is critical in a country where ethnic and regional identities profoundly shape political allegiances. His ability to balance these identities within the framework of national integration positions him as a unifying figure capable of advancing inclusive governance.
Critics who diminish the vice-presidential role overlook the institutional and constitutional responsibilities that the office entails. The vice president is not merely a standby official but an active participant in policymaking, governance, and representation. Shettima’s tenure has demonstrated commitment to these responsibilities, often spearheading initiatives and representing the presidency on critical domestic and international platforms. This proactive stance challenges outdated perceptions and elevates the office’s relevance in contemporary Nigerian politics.
READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/kashim-shettima-the-imperative-of-agricultural-revitalization-and-the-case-for-the-niger-deltas-agrarian-future/
Vice President Kashim Shettima’s presentation of the APC vice-presidential nomination certificate is a landmark achievement that validates his political stature and strategic importance. His journey from perceived marginalisation to political prominence showcases the power of relationship-building, empathy, and visionary leadership.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 presidential elections, Shettima stands as a testament to the evolving nature of the vice presidency—one characterised by active governance, broad-based support, and commitment to the nation’s unity and progress. The triumph of Shettima is not just a personal victory; it is a collective affirmation that strong, socially engaged leadership at all levels of government is indispensable for Nigeria’s democratic future. Congratulations to the people’s vice president and Jagoran Arewa on this well-deserved milestone.
*James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.
2027 VP Certificate of Return: The Triumphant Shettima
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