Democracy in Nigeria is in danger of full blown dictatorship. We must end this seiege if we want to free ourselves from totalitarian barbarism. Elections are not expected to be free and fair. We are witnessing political witch-hunt of the main opposition. The government is seeking various ways to criminalise and jail them, unless they defect to the ruling party. Today, they are fighting for their lost 'crown'-absolute control of the legislature which undermines the legitimate constitutional checks and balances, a return of the society to dark ages.
The truth is that those who think President Buhari is the answer to the country's problems despite monumental flaws should re-think it. Nigeria has overtaken India in poverty, and ranks below Somalia, Congo, etc in security. The country is the worst in electricity supply, no functional refinery, poor public services including education and healthcare, the state of infrastructure is beyound description, so many states cannot pay wages and pension. We have seen a new report by the National Statistics office rating unemployment increase from 37-percent to 40-percent in twenty-one months.
Basically this government lack basic ideas and innovation to create new jobs, yet it rejected the restructuring of the political structutre which was their election manifesto to spin the electorates.
Meanwhile OPEC has predicted 'gloomy' months for Nigeria and other oil economies due to lower global demand in 2019.
All the philosophers say the return of Autocracy is meaningless as it does not hold any promise of change. The consensus is that any society that wants its citizens to flourish and prosper must reject authoritarian leaders. In the words of Professor Yascha Mounk; "the future would not be much different from the past, and the willingness to elect authoritarian leader as a president is a very bad omen''-[The People vs Democracy].
We have written a lot about the mistake of destiny-the invitation of the strong man- a spin and ugly manipulation of human emotions such as fear. Freedom is not freely given. Unless people realise that this government is the problem not the solution they will not bring to end unnecessary vulnerability to endless spin, untruths, mass propaganda, lies,etc, by the power holders(cabals) to continue business as usual.
People need to be better generally in their own country given abundant resources; wealth in natural and human resources. Look around your various states to see if there is any sign that transformation will occur overnight. Now think of the Next Level devoid of reform/restructuring and inclusion; no opposition.
Uche Okeke is a Social Entrepreneur, the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation. He is the Author of Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable. What Can Be Done About It.
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