Ten years of democracy in Nigeria?
Pains, Gains of a Decade of DemocracyIn his farewell speech on May 28, 1999, the then Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar declared that it was time for the military to return to its constitutional role of defending the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty. According to him, "We must, forever, resist and renounce the seduction and temptation of political power and office. We must subject ourselves completely to civil authority. This is a sacred duty to which we must bind ourselves. It is our best guarantee to earn and retain the respect of our people. It is also your best chance for earning the approbation of the rest of a fast, changing world, in which new political and social values are transcendent."...
Also, former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his acceptance speech titled "Restoration of confidence in government" said he was aware of the widespread cynicism and total lack of confidence in government arising from the bad faith, deceit and evil actions of the past administrations". He then promised to implement quickly and decisively, measures that would restore confidence in governance...
Obasanjo spent eight years before handing over to the incumbent President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua...
Opinion leaders are generally happy with the civilian rule on the ground that it is the only form of governance that can guarantee improved economy like what obtains in some other countries and also guarantee the triumph of the will of the people through genuine representation at all tiers of government as enshrined in democratic tenets.
This belief no doubt, was responsible for the political stability in Nigeria from May 29, 1999 to date. Unfortunately, Nigeria's democratic progress was marred by corruption, electoral malpractices, nepotism and lack of patriotism on the part of the leaders.
According to Chinedu Akuta, the Coordinator of Support Option A4 Group "Sincerely speaking, the only gain we have got in the past 10 years of democracy in Nigeria is simply that we have had a civilian regime..."
Analysts are of the opinion that the ten years of self-governance in Nigeria has not impacted positively on the lives of the people as leaders have not delivered the democracy dividends to the people...
But Senate Spokesman, Senator Ayogu Eze , Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Information said that all is not bad for the decade of democracy in Nigeria. "It has been good but that does not mean that there have been no challenges..."
Senator Eze also said that the leaders cannot be totally blamed for the woes of the nation, rather he said that since democracy thrives more on the vigilance of the followership than on the vision of the leadership...
Imnakoya, who writes the blog, Grandiose Parlor, noted the tenth anniversary of civil government with an entry titled, "Ten years of democracy, has Nigeria fared better or worse?".
In what sector of the society has democracy made the most difference in Nigeria?
Is it in freedom of speech; accountability and rule of law; human rights and improved standard of living — reflected in lower crime rate; better education, improved access to health care and increasing socioeconomic status?
Sadly none of those indicators has improved over the last 10 years in Nigeria.
Democracy has not had significant and direct benefit to the people, particularly those at the lower strata of society, for one simple reason. The majority of the office holders and politicians lack genuine social agenda and the aptitude to bring about sustainable changes in the society.
Public service is not the motivating factor in Nigerian politics, at least over the last 10 years. The lure of power for personal gains is.
And would you agree that this singular factor has contributed in making Nigeria more undemocratic today than 10 years ago?
Why Democracy is On Course - Yar'Adua
PRESIDENT Umaru Yar'Adua said yesterday that the nations' democratic governance has lasted 10 years, uninterrupted... because of the deep-rooted loyalty and professionalism of the officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces...
Labels: democratization, Nigeria, politics
posted by Ken Wedding @ 6:03 AM
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