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RUSSIAN ACTORS, AFRICAN SCRIPT.


Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) must be full of envy as he watches Vladimir Putin become president of Russia again. In 2008, the latter relinquished his presidency to protégé, Dmitry Medvedev, because in Russia a president cannot stay in office for three consecutive terms. But unlike IBB, who power eludes since 'stepping aside' from Nigeria's number one seat on that fateful day 26 August 1993, Putin, has gone on to serve as Prime Minister of his country (2008 - 2012) and he's now set to occupy The Kremlin a third non-consecutive time.

However, if you've been following Russia's political scene for the past decade, you will know Putin's latest presidential mandate comes with some level of scepticism from his people. Also, most western leaders frown at oligarchy reign, seeing him metaphorically as a villain from the fictional British spy movie 'James Bond 007'. But, with the new 6-year presidential term in Russia, leaders from the west will have to put their hate aside and find a way to work with Putin for the next 12 years; assuming he gets re-elected in 2018.

Now, as much as you may be tempted to think Russia is in Africa, may I remind you it's a leading country on the European continent. But undoubtedly, operations of its major political party, United Russia Party (URP) bears a resemblance to South Africa's ruling party, African National Congress (ANC) and Nigeria's ruling party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), who also propose a single term of 7-years presidency in Nigeria, which is a subject of ongoing debate at the National Assembly.

Similar to the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, Vladimir Putin shunned presidential debates in run-up to the 2012 Russian elections. And just like him, he won the general elections in Russia.

Again similar to Nigeria, is the reaction of opposition parties in Russia. Quick to denounce election results as illegitimate and heading straight to the court to contest it. This despite knowing they didn't get as much votes as the winning candidate. Which in this case ensured approximately 91,000 web-cameras was fixed across all polling stations in the country, streaming Russia's elections in real-time to the world over the Internet.

Not only do international observers acknowledge Putin's victory through pursed lips, they call it a "catch-22". ‘No real alternative to Putin' says Alexander Rahr (German Council on Foreign Relations). A statement also being echoed for South-Africa's upcoming 2014 Presidential elections, where political analysts say ANC cannot be unseated by dissatisfaction of South-Africans alone; alternative candidate from an opposition Party has to be exceptional.

This is what strikes me when drawing comparison between Russia, South-Africa and Nigeria's 'political scenes'. A seeming distrust for the ruling party, yet, each time elections are called, voters restore power to the party in huge numbers ahead of opposition parties at the polls. While the reason for restoring incumbents in Russia and South-Africa may not be far-fetched – being that they’ve helped place their respective countries amongst emerging economies of the world – BRICS. The reason Nigerians restore ruling party, PDP, isn't so clear. Albeit delivering on reforms in the banking and telecommunications industry, they seem to be fumbling in other areas, especially electricity, roads and security - three aspects the people believe if improved will have direct impact on their lives: aiding their productivity and transportation, securing their life and property.

But like Russia and South-Africa, will it be a case of ‘no contest’ when PDP roll out their war-chest for Nigeria's 2015 Presidential elections? Interestingly, the party says it will rule Nigeria for 60 years, 16 is already in the bag and opposition parties appear hapless to stand in way of remaining 44 years of this prophecy.

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