Simply put, there is no democracy in Nigeria. Representative democracy in Nigeria is undermined by two main causes: Destructive Passion- Military, etc and The Mistake of Destiny-Election of President Muhammadu Buhari. The whole game plan was a political structure that could help them ''remain in power permanently quelling opposition and denying civil liberties''- Professor A.C. Grayling; (Democracy And Its Crisis, London 2018)
Nigeria's democracy fell short of the performance test for a transparent democracy, looking at the necessities and the desiderata. It has just been electoral democracy-election every four years, with more powers for the president and weak institutions and limited participation/engagement.
The only attempts were during the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, but were undermined by one-man, a long-term democracy sceptic, and ethnic bigot- President Muhammadu Buhari who was elected in 2015 by manipulating simple human emotions of fear, ignorance, poverty, etc using lies and propaganda, bribe, fraudlent media, social media manipulation, etc. The result is political and economic failure, massive corruption, killings, resisting reforms/restructuring, discrimination, exploitation, violent repression, instability, etc.
The election of President Buhari has reveresed the little democratic gains the country has made since the return to democracy in 1999, with huge assault to constitutional checks and balances, a big threat to the mechanisms of sound government, because it's obvious there won't be genuine choice for voters during the next election. The President has just declined to sign a new bill on election reform-election time table, etc.
The only remedy is the Restructuring of the current political structure to guarantee inclusiveness, Independent Institutions, New Leadership certainly not another Dictator, because Dictator Rule always result to Tyranny, Compulsory Civic Education at all levels- Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, etc. Democracy needs informed citizenry to succeed. This requires multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The essence of democracy is that the people are in control not the few. We must get it right in-order to have a sound and stable government that can deliver growth and stability not stagnation and endless instability.
This book is the work of a Social Entrepreneur, helping ordinary people to understand what has gone wrong and what can be done about it. We are committed to searching and sharing best practices to inform and inspire ordinary people to take action. Change happens if we are ready to take action to demand for change from the elites-power holders.
They said the best book is the one that tells the story we alreday know and the world only became real when you write about it. This book is attempt to help change thinking, so as to improve human rights and democracy in Nigeria. Today's new awareness and liberation technology has made change possible.
In the words of the famous author-Edna O'Brien: "The most important thing of all that a book, or a poem, or a drama, imparts to us is its permanence. Permanence is vital. It is a transfusion of thought from one generation to the next. It is immortal"-Sven Hughes-[War of the words: Turning boring Brexit into a bestseller, City AM Thursday 15 March 2018].
The government's highest priority is to consolidate power at any cost using cruelty and violence.
This is a wake-up call to fight for the future of democracy in Nigeria, the only hope for man. Rule by the few- not yet Uhuru-(Freedom) in Nigeria, until philosophers become kings. Thinking needs to change. Nigeria's democracy has always for the few not the majority. Together we can change the way things are.
Democracy works where there is triumph of reason, people are well-off to think properly, and philosophers are in charge. There is urgent need for the people to sit down -debate/dialogue the type of government they want. If this is not happening, then its a huge crisis, a dilemma, a tragedy...
Useful Links:
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/nigeria-peril-of-destructive-passion_22.html
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/nigeria-mistake-of-destiny-invitation.html
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/the-failure-of-democracy-in-nigeria.html
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/why-philosophers-are-not-kings-in.html
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/the-dilemma-of-democracy-in-nigeria.html
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/features-of-nigerias-democracy-rule-by.html
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/nigeria-republic-has-become-empire.html
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/restructuring-nigeria-big-political_22.html
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/restructuring-nigeria-equal-rights-and.html
Uche Okeke, London 2018. He's the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation-The Voice of the Poor-[Truth And Freedom]. Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/new-book-nigerias-democracy-and-its.html
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