The universal idea of democracy is for government to be inclusive, but this is not the case in Nigeria. We gave ourselves the task of finding out about the failure of democracy in Nigeria and what can be done about it. Naturally, we take a brief look at history and where we are today in the democratic journey. Our findings are very shocking and revealing: Democracy has not been 'properly and transparently' been applied in Nigeria. This is 'deliberate', and can be avoided.
Several attempts to do this were frustrated by the military who subjected the country to prolonged military rule. The devastations still hunt the country till date. The tragic election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, a military dictator and a lifelong democracy sceptic has endangered both the 'necessities and the desiderata' for a transparent democracy in Nigeria, including constitutional checks and balances, civil and political rights. "Rule by dictator often degenerate into tyranny, than is democracy"[A.C. Grayling; Democracy And It's Crisis, London, 2017].
The country is now alarmed to the dangers of full-blown totalitarian agenda which only the immediate restructuring of the current political structure can salvage, to provide a 'sound government'. There is high propensity for violence as the next election is not expected to be free and fair given the manipulation of a hidden cabal. This dilemma can be avoided.
According to Professor Attahiru Jega, a Professor of Political Science and a former head of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission: "Clearly everybody knows that military rule is an aberration, and if it has done anything in our continent here in Africa is that it has created very dangerous legacies..., many of the politicians now have a do-or-die mentality of engaging in election and it is a mindset that was imbibed under the military rule".[Nigeria's democracy not delivering dividends, Vanguard, February 9, 2018]
Read this blog regularly and follow us on our various networks to find out more as we follow events in a country that is about to re-write it's history. This dilemma could be resolved. Restructuring of the current political structure and change of leadership is the key.
Uche Okeke is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.
"An informed and reflective electorate, and a responsible fourth estate as a vehicle for distributing that information and providing a platform for debate and analysis"- A.C. Grayling.
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