Facts You Should Know About Democracy In Nigeria

Democracy In Nigeria

Democracy Day is celebrated June 12, a national public holiday in Nigeria. Until June 6, 2018 it was held annually on May 29. Democracy Day marks the day the military handed over power to an elected Civilian government in 1999, marking the beginning of the longest continuous Civilian rule Since Nigeria's independence from colonial rule in 1960. It is a tradition that has been held annually begining in year 2000. June 12 was formally known as Abiola Day, celebrated in Lagos Nigeria and some South Western States of Nigeria.
On June 6, 2018, eight days after may 29, 2018 had been celebrated as Democracy Day, the President Buhari- led Federal Government of Nigeria declared June 12 to be the new Democracy Day. These was done to commemorate the Democratic election of MKO Abiola on June 12, 1993. It was, however, cancelled by the Ibrahim Babangida Junta. MKO Abiola was later detained after he declared himself the president.

Threats Facing Democracy In Nigeria

There are road blocks to a strong democracy in Nigeria at all levels of government. Conflict- triggered by political competition and communal, ethnic, religious or resource allocation rivalries - poses a major threat to democracy.

Corruption

Corruption has become a Culture in Nigeria such that it now looks strange to condemn it. Many people believe that Nigeria cannot survive without corruption. Some politicians are in office just for the single aim of stealing. How does one explain a situation whereby elderly politicians are stealing a massive wealth they don't need? Does it makes sense to the masses to come out to vote in an election that would throw up a cabal of looters?

A democratic regime is expected to deliver services to the masses and abolish poverty, buty this cannot be achieved if corruption remains a way of life. It is sad that stealing is not corruption in Nigeria. During the campaigning days, the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari-, said that if we we didn't kill corruption, corruption would kill us.

Security Agencies and Electoral Umpire

Security Agencies are supposed to keep law and order and to remain politically neutral during elections, but here in Nigeria the opposite is the case. There are political officers and men in the Nigerian Military, the police force and other security Agencies. In most cases, they work for the ruling party. Which work do they do? They give covers to thugs when snatching ballot boxes and other voting materials, they unlawfully arrest and detain opposition party chieftains that can mobilize the voters prior to the election, they intimidates the voters prior to the election, they intimidates the voters sympathetic to the opposition and stuffing of ballot boxes.

Poor Justice Delivery

The Nigerian Judiciary is confused and in disarray. It is only the ones rich that gets Justice because they can afford it. While the rich are above the law, the poor are below the law. Most of the court verdicts are conflicting. While a man who stole N23 billion from Police pension fund was given two years behind bars with the option of a fine of N750,000 by Abuja High Court (Vanguard Newspaper, Jan, 29, 2013), the man who stole a Governor's GSM phone would spend eight harrowing years in prison without an option of a fine! With money on can obtain frivolous injunctions to truncate or impede the wheel of Justice, refered to ad Black Market injuctions by former Edo state Governor, Adams Oshiomole.

This is the reason some some high profile criminals such as corrupt State governors and some petroleum subsidy thieves are freely enjoying their loots. But  the poor who cannot afford the law is interpreted and applied based on status interpreted and applied in Nigeria based on status differentials.

The Senior Lawyers In Nigeria ( SANs) are not helping matters. I used to see them as role models, people with working conscience. Due to morbid thirst for wealth they can appear in court to defend the undefendable. Why should a senior advocate wear a wig and go to court to defend a terrorist that kidnapped and raped married women and later collected ransom before releasing them? Is it morally right to benefit from the proceeds of crime? Why are the senior Lawyers struggling to be chosen as defense lawyers for indicated corrupt governors who had subjected their people to unnecessary hardship? I, like many Nigerians, am wondering if the Judiciary is really interested in the fight against corruption and terrorism

Poverty and Illiteracy/ Electoral Violence

The challenges of poverty and Illiteracy to Nigeria democracy cannot be overemphasized. 80% of the population is poor and uneducated. The hungry and uninformed people are easily bought over irresponsible politicians with ill - gotten wealth. This makes makes it difficult for good people to win election as we play money politics. Again, thugs are easily recruited from the poor and uneducated to cause electoral violence. Can a renegade politician recruit the son of a successful business man as a thug?

Some educated young men who are in unemployed can be easily recruited as thugs during elections. There were many reported cases of electoral violence in Rivers State in the 2015 general election. People were killed and several houses burnt. So the issue of job creation is important here. Democracy cannot flourish in a docile society. When we have a vibrant and well informed electorates,  job opportunity, the problem of electoral violence will disappear and democracy will become everybody's bribe.

Insecurity

Insecurity is unarguably the greatest threat to Nigeria nascent democracy. In the southern part of the country there is menace of rape kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery. Several lives have been lost in the process. In the Northern part of the country, their is the problem of the mindless sects, Boko Haram that has wasted several lives and destroy property Worth billions of Naira.

Movement for the Actualization Of The Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB), wants independence for the region while its counterpart in the South-West, Odua People Congress (OPC), is mainly concerned with ethnic jingoism. The problem of insecurity must be addressed holistically by the administration if the Democracy must stay.

Poor Supply Of Electricity And Petroleum Products.

Electricity and fuel are very essential commodities I'm Nigeria and such should never have been left in the hands of those that cannot make them available for the masses. The Privatization of the power sector has not yielded dividends. It appears that the new investors, mostly cronies of offcials of the immediate pastregine, are not ready for business.  They are kept a float with outrageous estimated Bills and Unholy electricity fixed charges Paid by Nigerian for staying in darkness.

An important commodity such as fuel should not be left in the hands of profiteers like the oil marketer. Why do we have the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

Conclusion And Recommendation

An attempt has been made to identify the threats facing Nigerian nascent democracy. They include corruption, high cost of governance as a result of prodigious and reckless spending as well, poverty and illiteracy, poor justice delivery, partisan security agencies and electoral umpire, and poor supply of power and fuel. All these are capable of endangering the democracy. The first and second republics fell due to corruption, electoral violence in the western region (the wild wild west) and several other factors. So the challenge now is how the new regime can surmount these problems as soon as possible.

It is recommended that:

- Citizenship or civic education is made a compulsory subject in all Nigerian schools and the National Orientation Agency be strengthened to change the avaricious attitude of Nigerians.
- Any person found guilty of corruption, economic sabotage, electoral violence and malpractice, and terrorism be executed without death warrant.
- Elected or appointed public office holders be taken to mortuaries of general hospitals as part of orientation. The gory sight of poorly kept corpses could checkmate their unhealthy desire for material acquisition.
- The head of the electoral body be allowed to appoint his commissioners and also be given the power to discipline any of them that commits infractions. This would enable him to pick trusted Nigerians that will not bring shame to the electoral body.
- Nigeria should adopt a unicameral legislature of only the senate to be made up of 36 senators on a part time basis. The 36 states should have six regional assemblies to be made up of 36 members each on a part time basis. The president can work with 12 ministers and 6 special advisers. The governors can work with 10 commissioners and 4 special advisers. This will reduce the high cost of governance.
- Even though the government has no business in business, essential services should not be in the hands of greedy profiteers. So the federal government must urgently review the privatization of the power sector with a view to revoking the licenses of investors that are not ready for business and ascertaining the real owners of the distribution companies. The fraudulent and ungodly electricity fixed charge be abolished immediately. The NNPC be overhauled to refine enough fuel for local consumption and the fuel subsidy be abolished. This will prevent a situation whereby the nation could be held to ransom by a cabal of oil marketers/importers.
- A single term of five years be adopted for the president and the governors to ensure a level playing field for all politicians.
- The salaries and allowances of public office holders be drastically reviewed downward for the benefit of the masses from whom political power is derived.
- Judges and security agents found guilty of corruption and partisanship be dismissed without gratuity and be prosecuted. The Ekiti State Rigging Saga be investigated and the culprits dealt with to deter others.
- The appointments of all the service chiefs be tenured so that they won’t play partisan politics to keep their jobs.