Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable('Bribe & Bullet')'. What Can Be Done About It-Uche Okeke

The era of complete control over people and things is over. Political leaders must in the words of Alec Ross; " open up and resist control-freak tendencies''. In the golden age future growth and stability depends on empowering the citizens''- Uche Okeke.  Photo: Uche Okeke

Freedom is only when we have options to pursue our rights. Today the conclusion to be drawn is that the status-quo has failed to deliver as expected. What we are witnessing is 'social breakdown, anarchy, chaos rather than human liberation'. The Next Level will be disastrous-Absolutism; a return of the society to the primitive state. Radical Restructuring of the current political structure is the answer to equity and justice vital for a fair and just society. We must reject any government that plays political football with the much needed restructuring for stability. Thinking needs to change. Restructuring Nigeria is citizens right, just like the right to vote in elections, so the citizens must put more pressure on the politicians to do the needful, because they conspire to maintain a system that serves their interest-profit. This book is about the subversion of democracy in Nigeria by 'the few'- 'vested interests'; a ruthless cabal manipulating simple human emotions- Ignorance, Fear, Poverty, Greed; using cruelty and violence: Bribe and Bullet, blood money, fraudlent media, social media, corporate power, traditional rulers, religious leaders, opinion/community leaders, lies, propaganda, fake news, patronage politics-political appointments into unproductive agencies, cult-like political party system for anointed kings, and pseudo political structure that legitimises authoritarian rule.
Today we live in the Golden Age- Age of Enlightenment and Reason, Equality and Freedom. One sure way to achieve inclusiveness is Constitutional Change- Reform/ Restructuring of the current political structure that concentrates Political and Economic Power at the centre for the benefit of 'the few'; their families, friends and associates for their ''luxury and adorenment''.
Greater Devolution of Responsibility and Resources is the key to drive a 21st-century Nigeria to achieve growth and stability, strengthen the union and its diversity. All the societies that have done this are peaceful and prosperous. This requires a shift in thinking, active civil society, and educated electorate willing to demand change from 'the few', instead of fighting among themselves. Today change is possible. Together we can change the way things are. Failing democracy in Nigeria is  due to a number of causes all deliberate, avoidable. We have identified the two main causes for Democracy Crisis in Nigeria as follows and outlined possible remedy.
1. The Peril of Destructive Passion:
"Hijacking by despotism, the licence to
do as one pleases"-Professor A.C. Grayling
-Broken Morals
-Absolutism-Authoritarianism.
-Coup.
-Divine Right Theory(Born to rule narrative),

2. The Mistake of Destiny: Invitation of the Strong Man;
'How Did We Get Into This Mess?-George Monbiot.
"Experience shows that every man invested with power
 is apt to abuse it"-Montesquieu.

-Custodian of divine right doctrine
-Prisoner of tradition(Might Is Right)
-Authoritarianism-
-Dissent Clampdown
-Muzzling opposition
-Selective Justice
-Mass Propaganda, lies, untruth,etc
-New Peril-The Herdsmen- Anarchy
('Land Grabbing- Raiding, Depopulating,
Appropriating Neighbouring Lands')
-Deplorable resistance to modernity(Rejects Restructuring).
-Loss of Liberty.
-Demagoguery and Populism(Anti-Establishment, Angry, Frustrated,etc,
they alone represent the people, every-other person is corrupt...)
-Election Rigging, etc
-The Next Level: Democracy to Dictatorship

Others:
a) The Five Giants:
''Which destroys wealth and corrupts men"-Nicholas Timmins.
- Giant Want
 Giant Ignorance
(''Ignorance is still a giant to be slain'')
- Giant Idleness
- Giant Poverty
- Giant Fear
-Fake News, Untruths, Mass Propaganda,
Fraudlent Media, Social Media, etc.

What Can Be Done About It ?
"Insanity is doing the same thing over
and over again and expecting different results"-A. Einstein

 The Golden Age:
'Education-Enlightenment-Freedom-Empowerment- Equality- Autonomy.'
-Constitutional Change-'The Will of the People'
-Proportional/Equal Representation(Federal Allocations, Education, Legislature, etc)
-Independent Institutions(Legislature, Judiciary, INEC, etc.)
-Devolution of Responsibility and Resources(Sufficient economic
& financial resources to Autonomous/Independent states/regions)
-Civic Education
-Citizen Engagement Education
-NGOs,Collaboration(Aligning Government, Civil Society, Business)
- New Leadership(Committed Democrats With Experience
 and Expertise to Deliver)
-Women In Development
-Diaspora For Development.
-Greater Economic Diversification
(Entrepreneurship, New Skills Training, Trade,
Tech, Taxation, Agric, Agribusiness, Mfg, etc)
-Globalisation/Tech
-Global Partnership(International Institutions)

 Poverty is man made and can be eradicated, no wonder Rt. Hon. Tony Blair said :"Africa is a stain on the conscience of humanity". Instead of embracing the challenges of the Golden Age -constitutional settlement; empowerment, freedom, autonomy, globalisation, the power holders prefer to unleash terror;  a return of the society to life in a state of nature-'nasty, brutish, short'. What a tragedy! Democracy is more than just elections. The era of 'clinging zealously' to the obsolete politics of domination is over. The time has come to ditch ''primitive 19th century notions of conquest'', and embrace a new world of ''individual rights, an ever expanding circle of liberty''-Charles Krauthammer. Democracy in Nigeria faces a major threat from 'totalitarianism', it needs committed democracts to be in-charge to build a new democratic society that promotes the goal of democracy: ''Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness''-Jefferson . This project is an attempt to help shift thinking by providing new information and ideas to inspire action and possibly drive change. Invest in all and prosper not using conquering techniques to diminish citizens potentials. According to the World Bank; "people drive a nation's stability and economic growth, that's why investing in a healthy, educated and resilient population is key to competing effectively in the global economy" This project also addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs 1-No Poverty, 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth, 10-Reduced Inequalities and 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Uche Okeke is a Statistician, and Social Entrepreneur. He's the Founder of the LEAD Project Foundation. He lives in London.

-Comments From Home And Abroad: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/p/blog-page.html

- Restructuring Nigeria: www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/09/restructuring-nigeria-is-one-sure-way.html

References: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/p/list-of-works-used.html