Democracy Day: A day for reflection not celebration!
As this years’ Democracy Day (May 29th 2017) approaches, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that Nigerians have every reason to celebrate their leadership of the nation. Unfortunately for all of us, rather than using the occasion to assess the development of our democracy, myopic Nigerian politicians have turned Democracy Day into a celebration of their election victories and opportunity to campaign for re-election. Democracy Day was enacted to commemorate the restoration of democracy when President Obasanjo a former military ruler took office as President of Nigeria. May 29th 1999 signalled the end of decades of military rule that began in 1966 and was interrupted only briefly by a period of democracy between 1979 and 1983.
The return to democracy in 1999 was supposed to bring about the return of civil liberties, free press and an end to arbitrary arrests, torture and human rights violations and a new era of regular elections at all levels of government. All of this still hasn’t happened seventeen years later. Granted that there are some signs that our democracy is maturing but lamentably the pace is altogether far too slow. True democracy is built upon the equality of citizens, their freedoms to associate with one another, and their freedom to choose their leaders in free and fair elections. It’s patently unfair to place the blame for lack of democratic development on an APC government which has been in office for only two years. The blame for the fact that despite nearly two decades of uninterrupted democracy a sense of hopelessness is pervading the nation falls at the doorstep of all our “new breed” political class whose superficial ideology has not progressed beyond the award of contracts. Our economy has stagnated, there is mass unemployment, and it’s become abundantly clear to all that our democracy isn’t working.
Democracy has failed to give Nigerians the quality of governance they deserve or the delivery of services they are entitled to. Our political leaders are yet to engineer a fair social system and build the sort of strong and stable institutions required for democracy to flourish. We are reportedly the fourth largest democracy in the world but our democracy is not built on equality. Equality of opportunity, equality of reward and equality before the law don’t exist in Nigeria. The rule of law in particular has been overtaken by undemocratic executive impunity. In Nigerian democracy elections are still being held with very little regard for the electorate. As a result of unceasing electoral malpractice, Nigerian citizens are still being disenfranchised. Indeed, our democracy is notorious for being practised without democrats!
Those occupying positions of responsibility are still effortlessly looting treasuries with impunity. Our political elite feel entitled to a lifestyle which is at complete variance with the prevailing poverty of those they claim to represent. Since May 29th 1999 Billions of Naira and Millions of Dollars have been syphoned off in official sleaze. Time after time politicians promise “dividends of democracy”. They promise housing for all, affordable standard healthcare, good hospitals, schools, roads, and governance but repeatedly fail to deliver. The ousting of an incumbent president through the ballot box in 2015 was supposed to represent a giant stride in Nigerian democracy.
For the first time, a defeated presidential candidate quietly went home to lick his wounds as a failed government was held accountable. Indeed, it was a time for euphoria and a watershed, but the euphoria quickly died down as the continuing arrogant display of illgotten wealth by politicians stoked fires of indignation and fanned the flames of hatred against the political class from ordinary Nigerians. In complete disregard for the prevailing economic situation, legislators in the National Assembly revel in financially, socially and legally oppressing the masses arrogating to themselves almost 30% of the total overhead cost of the national budget. In a true democracy, they should be proposing impactful legislation to provide meaningful solutions to our problems.
Instead the NASS has long since been compromised and become a centre for corrupt practices. The biggest failure of our democracy is that as a nation, we are yet to legislate a blueprint for economic management, educational opportunities, food security, full employment and equal opportunities. We are yet to legislate to minimise want, ignorance and decease despite the fact that outbreaks of Ebola, meningitis, and cholera is rampant. The question of national identity, legitimacy of authority, transformation of Nigerian society has still not been properly addressed.
In Nigerian democracy, Local Government which is the arm of government closest and most relevant to the people has become meaningless. According to recent warnings from the Chief of Army Staff the abysmal failure of our democracy since 1999 has stimulated some people’s appetite for military coups. This must be discouraged by all means possible even though the incompetence, greed, insincerity and insensitivity of our political class has ensured that we have failed monumentally in human development index. Nigeria is not a poor nation, but despite democracy we remain a rich nation full of poor people! The current President and Vice-President have the outward demeanour of humble, patriotic and committed Nigerians. Unfortunately, they are surrounded by political jobbers who lack integrity and compassion for the common man. Until all Nigerian politicians have the moral compass of the duo, celebrating democracy day will remain a hollow ritual.