IS DEMOCRACY REALLY WORKING?

Since Nigeria got her Independence in 1960, it has experienced coups and counter coups, Biafra War, series of agitations and rumors of wars. Like the adage that says: ‘When a man marries two wives, he will know the good one’, Nigeria has practiced both military and democratic government; hence, ought to have known the one that guarantees peace and stability. Even though it is confusing to say boldly which one is better, judging by what is going on in the country today, the fact remains that democracy can never be overlooked. Going by its definition, democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people. Globally, it is the only system of government with tenets that accommodates the rights of the citizens which in essence does not give room for war. I will base my case on the following points:

Democracy ensures political freedom: This means in essence that in a democratic rule, there is freedom to form parties. People have the right to determine and change constitutional order, the right to vote and be voted for. This practice in essence ensures that there is equal participation, hence, channeling the minds of people away from war situations.

Democracy ensures equal right of the citizens: In democratic rule, everyone is equal before the law; there is equal protection in the court in the court of law. Hence, for every offense committed, there is equal punishment for all that committed it, poor or rich, etc. There are no special privileges or restrictions when it comes to race, political beliefs, religion, status, class, etc. How can there be agitations, hate speeches, rumors of wars, etc., enough to bring about wars when these practices are in place? We may have found ourselves in a strange democracy that makes no sense compared to democracy practiced in other developed countries of the world but let us not forget that those that has been in the centre of our democracy are retired military rulers. Their military ideology has polluted our democracy because a general is always a general.

There is freedom of information in Democratic Rule: It was in democratic regime that freedom of information bill was signed into law. This law promotes transparency and accountability in government, and gives the citizens access to public records. For this reason, information access to the average citizen has increased tremendously. This has helped the citizens to know what is going on in the helm of affairs; thereby knowing what to do, what not to do and how to face problem situations so as not to instigate war.

Democracy ensures freedom of speech: Democracy gives people the power to express their views, criticize the government, etc., thereby, making the leaders to redress their steps and not abuse the privilege given to them. This is because if their excesses are not checked, they are enough to bring about wars. The present administrator is a typical example. His government is characterized by hatred, vengeance, selfishness, tribalism, etc. He brought his military regime ideology into democracy. If not for free speech that people resort to vent their anger and frustrations, who knows; war may have ensued. But today, the media can tell the people what is going on in the helm of affairs without being jailed for it. It was not so during the military era. For example, during his military regime, Buhari jailed Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson of ‘The Guardian Newspaper’ on stories that were factually true.

Concerned citizens may argue “how come Nigeria still face the problem of social injustice, human right abuse, imposition of leaders, marginalization, poor quality of life, unemployment, corruption, etc. in Nigerian democratic setting”? This is true but I deem it right to say that the above mentioned vices are still found in other systems of government but with little or no opinion from the people. No wonder Sen. Hope Uzodinma said “Although democracy is not practiced in Nigeria as it should, the worst of it is better than military rule”. He added that we are better off disagreeing to agree, having the opportunity to air our views and contributing our quota to the development of the nation. Democracy is the best bet that gives citizens the power to use words to change things for good, which I know will be the outcome in this democratic Nigeria when the majority accept and live by the tenets of democracy.

Late Umaru Musa Yar’adua and former president Goodluck Jonathan were the two pure democrats that have ruled Nigeria and every well meaning Nigerian can attest that the citizens felt the air of democracy during their regime. The fact that they failed in some areas is because they were surrounded by animal species that were ready for war if things do not go their way. This is unlike what is happening today. Majority of our leaders in the helm of affairs do not want to criticize the president for fear of losing their positions. Thanks to the freedom of information law and free speech, one of the dividends of democracy, for giving the media the power to share information for public enlightenment, thereby curbing war like situations.

The only bottleneck suffocating democracy is the fact that those at the centre of it are retired military leaders who merged democracy with military rule ideology. It is said that two cannot walk together except they agree. There is therefore no way military ideology will agree with democratic ideology; they must clash, but not for war, because democracy will prevail because of its freedom nature.

Democracy is no doubt the best system of government in Nigeria, but will only bring positive results when pure democrats begin to control it, and surrounded by leaders that are not affected by military/cannibalistic ideology. We are yet to experience a working democracy. For now Nigerian democracy has no definition.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi