"Power is a dangerous thing and must be controlled at all times"-Neil McNaughton.
Naturally when things start going wrong people would be asking important questions.
We have been researching and analysing social issues in Nigeria and what can be done to enhance freedom and spread of opportunities to lift ordinary people out of poverty. Leadership styles are very important and help drive stability and growth in a society. It adds immense value to the general welfare of the citizens. This work assumes general knowledge of the definition of Autocracy and democracy. Read More: https://prezi.com/ja8yvnkcpuwi/democracy-vs-autocracy/
Nigeria is - a natural resource abundant and ethnically diverse society. Nigeria is a case study where wealth in natural resources induce Autocracy. Autocracy is associated with repression, exploitation and exclusion, the major factors for political instability, violence, rebellion and possible civil war. We are all witnesses to this narrative, given the devastation of long military rule and the tyrannical nature of the current government which now threatens its democracy and national unity.
It is very misleading to think we are in a democracy. The essence of democracy is to secure the blessings of liberty, prosperity ,and freedom not terrorism and tyranny. However, today the government is above the law of the land, threatens democratic checks and balance,takes unilateral decisions, does not obey court orders, discards federal character charter, rejects restructuring, divides the country along ethnic lines, indecisive about the fulani -herdsmen- the world's fourth deadly terror group terrorising and killing citizens. The government is even imposing them on communities through-out the country through grazing policy, despite it's implications to national security.
It engages in bias-corruption-war, bullies ethnic minorities, clampdown on opposition and dissent voices , repress free speech. There are poor and uneven distribution of essential public services such as education, healthcare and infrastructure, favouritism, no equal rights, pursues own interests, human rights abuse, blame games, propaganda, lies, manipulation online and offline, promotes 'wastage of resources through patronage politics', etc.
According to Professor Sir, Paul Collier, ''Autocracy has failed to generate conditions conducive to growth and its return would hold no promise of improvement. Autocracies are likely to be highly detrimental for economic development. Autocracy in ethnically diverse societies reduces growth,..., Typically in ethnically diverse societies autocrats depend upon the support of their own ethnic group. The narrower the base of social support, the stronger the incentive for economic policy to sacrifice growth in order to redistribute income to the autocrat's group"-The Bottom Billion; Why the Poorest countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It; The Natural Resource Trap. P.49&50 . Oxford University Press.
There is abundant evidence in this regard which has now sparked 'legitimate anger' among the citizens. In 2018, it's increasingly very difficult to deceieve people especially as it affects their own lives and future. This is what we're now witnessing. This is a lesson to tyranny, and merchants of untruth who build their success on endless manipulation of ordinary people.They thrive on a dysfunctional system. Today, technology has made it very easy to compile the list of controversial government policies.
The 21st century requires leadership that enhances freedom, spreads opportunity widely, and respects diversity. It needs compassionate and caring leaders who can rekindle hope of a good future where everyone benefit from the wealth of the nation.
INEC has just released the time-table for the next general elections, come 2019. Let us make sure we register to vote to enable us participate in electing good leaders who can guaranty democracy, freedom and prosperity that comes with democracy. "Power is a dangerous thing and must be controlled at all times"-Neil McNaughton; Political Ideologies. [P.15].
History can familiarise, and can also warn us, however, it's up to us to choose the future we want. Autocrats rely on the manipulation of elections using violence and government controlled institutions, now is the time to beware.
Uche Okeke My View .
According to Professor Sir, Paul Collier, ''Autocracy has failed to generate conditions conducive to growth and its return would hold no promise of improvement"
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