If Biden Were A Nigerian, Would He Have Responded To Public Pressure, And Drop Out Of The 2024 Race?, by Isaac Asabor

In a momentous turn of events, U.S. President Joe Biden declared his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection just four months before the election. The decision follows a prickly debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump, which raised noteworthy misgivings about Biden’s fitness for office.

It will be recalled that during the June 27 debate that the 81-year-old president often trailed off and failed to address the former president’s numerous falsehoods. This performance led to swelling pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside.

President Biden stated that his decision “Is in the best interest of my party and the country.” Despite withdrawing from the race, he plans to serve out the remainder of his term, which comes to an end on January 20, 2025.

As gathered, Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee. The move comes as Americans prepare to head to the polls on November 5, 2024.

His withdrawal marks a significant moment in the 2024 election cycle, as the Democratic Party looks to regroup and rally behind a new candidate in the face of a challenging campaign season.

Against the foregoing backdrop, the question been asked in this context, “If Biden Were A Nigerian, Would He Have Responded To Public Pressure, And Drop Out Of The 2024 Race?”, and which is invariably the headline of this piece, is unarguably salient as it would unarguably serve as a lesson for Nigerian politicians, and an eye opener for their obsequious followers.

In his attempt to answer the foregoing question, a colleague of this writer, Ikechi, said “If Joe Biden were Nigerian, his response to public pressure would likely depend on various factors, including his political background, personality, and the specific context, and the few considerations he highlighted in his response to the question revolve around political climate in Nigeria, public perception, pressure and democratic norms cum economic and social factors, and protests and civil unrest.

According to him, “Nigeria has a unique political landscape with its own challenges, including corruption, ethnic diversity, and economic disparities. If Biden were a Nigerian politician, he would need to navigate these complexities.

Answering the question from the perspective of public perception and pressure, he said, “Like any leader, Biden would face public scrutiny. If there were widespread calls for him to step down, he might consider the impact on his reputation, party, and the nation. Peaceful dialogue and engagement with citizens would be crucial.

From the perspective of democratic norms, he said, “Nigeria is a democratic country, and leaders are expected to respect the rule of law and democratic institutions. Biden, as a Nigerian leader as been imagined in this context, would likely adhere to these norms.

In a similar vein, as he argued from economic and social factors, he said “The Nigerian consumer market faces challenges such as inflation, unemployment, and poverty. Biden would need to address these issues while balancing political stability.

Then, from the standpoint of protests and civil unrest, he said, “Rather than violent protests, a Nigerian Biden might advocate for peaceful demonstrations and constructive dialogue. His response would impact the nation’s stability”.

To satisfactorily answer the foregoing question, which is invariably the headline of this piece, it is expedient to X-ray some portions in Biden’s full Statement released on X.  He stated, “My Fellow Americans, over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.

“Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today”. If Biden were Nigerian, he would have attributed the record success to affiliates and supporters of his party, and not the people. The reason for the foregoing view cannot be farfetched as anyone that is not affiliated to his party is seen as an enemy of progress.

Biden, who also stated that his decision “Is in the best interest of my party and the country,” could not have said that if he were Nigerian. This is as he would have stood his ground and assert that it is his turn to be president. In Nigeria, such weird entitlement has been coined to be “Emilokan”.

Given the foregoing, there is no denying the fact that if Biden were Nigerian that he would not have quit the race as he could have seen being a president for the second time to be his turn. His heritage, if you like!

In fact, there is no denying the fact that Biden bowing to the pressure of Americans to quit the stage highlights the fact that the essence of democracy lies in the idea that elected officials serve the interests of the people who put them in power. When politicians prioritize their constituents and actively listen to their voices and needs, it strengthens the democratic process.

As a journalist with a keen interest in politics, this dynamic plays out in an opposite direction in Nigeria as the relationship between politicians and citizens is not the same as obtains in America. In Nigeria, politicians do not listen to the voice of the citizens. For instance, when an ailing politician is vying for a political position ahead of an upcoming election, and he is advised to quit the race as he would not be able to deliver dividends of democracy to the people due to his or her health status, such advice would be seen by his supporters to be a campaign of calumny. Even some Journalists working for such politician would even argue that their “paymaster” is not going to government house to do weightlifting or carry bags of cement.

In fact, in this part of the world, citizens seem not to have the right to hold politicians accountable for their actions, irrespective of the fact that when politicians view themselves as public servants, they become more responsive to the needs of their constituents, even as transparency, regular communication, and accessible channels for feedback are essential.

Therefore, to this writer, particularly when the foregoing facts are contextually put into consideration, if Biden were Nigerian, he would not have responded to public pressure, and drop out of the 2024 race as he would stood his ground and say, “It is my turn”, (Emilokan).