Democracy Day: Accessing the journey so far
Today, June 12, is Democracy Day. It is a tradition that has been held annually, beginning in the year 2000. Until June 6, 2018, it was held on May 29, which 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. June 12 was formerly known as Abiola Day, celebrated in Lagos, Nigeria, and some southwestern 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. Buhari gave his inaugural address for his second term on June 12, 2019. These were done to commemorate the democratic election of MKO Abiola on June 12, 1993, in what has been adjudged to be Nigeria’s freest and fairest elections. It was, however, wrongly canceled by Ibrahim Babangida’s Junta. MKO Abiola was later detained after he rightfully declared himself the president. Chief MKO Abiola died mysteriously after drinking tea during the negotiation of his release.
When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in on the 29th of May 1999 as the first president of the 4th republic, our hope was high, expectations abounded and anticipation heightened as Nigerians looked up to the newly constituted democratic government to salvage the despaired state of the nation. Fortunately, the democratic government has remained for 23 years with no interruption from the military.
It is rather unpropitious to note that the colossal yearnings of the citizens are yet to be satisfied. It has become obvious that Nigerians are still not enjoying the dividends of democracy… A closer look at the Nigerian system will reveal a grave undemocratic society!
Insecurity
Our democratic governments claim to be guided in their governance by the constitution but they seem not to be aware of the part of the constitution which says that ‘the security and welfare of the citizens should be the primary aim of the government’. Nigeria, today, has been marred with constant security challenges ranging from sectarian, inter-tribal, and inter-religious crises to terrorist attacks and insurgency. All these have caused mayhem, disorderliness, and a state of near-anarchy in the nation. The recent 5th June attack on a church in a relatively stable Ondo state, in southwest Nigeria, which saw more than 50 people killed is a stark reminder of how distraught our security has become. The citizens can no longer sleep with both eyes closed, rather, with one closed and the other wide open to sense the next call of the seemingly unending insecurity challenges.
Infrastructure
One of the dividends of a democratic government is its ability to provide the citizenry with the basic necessities of life. Nigeria, unfortunately, is still not able to boast of adequate social amenities for its citizens. Accidents are reported daily on our deplorable roads, especially our so-called federal highways. This has resulted in the loss of lives of countless citizens. The dearth of innocuous and drinkable water sources is just another of the so many amenities and infrastructural decays prominent in Nigeria. Our government schools, both at the basic and tertiary levels are nothing but pitiable sights. Nigeria, the acclaimed giant of Africa, and the largest economy in the continent can not boast of a stable electricity power generation and transmission above 4000MW…
Electoral Malpractices
A part of Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy is, ‘Government by the people.’ This means a government that is determined, set up, and operated by ‘the people.’ One of the key characteristics of a democratic government is the ability of the people to freely elect their leaders and representatives. In an indirect democracy, as we have in Nigeria, it is expected of the masses to voluntarily elect fellow citizens to represent them in making decisions through a free, fair, and credible election. But the reverse is the case in our nation. Nigeria’s election has been characterized by electoral malpractices such as ballot box snatching, hooliganism, miscount of votes, coercive voting, election result protest, election petitioning, and even to the extent of appealing election judgments decided by the election petition tribunal. The massive vote-buying and ‘dollar-rain’ in the just concluded party primaries, especially in the two main political parties is just another testament to the deep rot in our electoral system. These, obviously, do not speak well of a democratic government where the majority voice of the common masses should be the engine of the nation’s drive towards development and good governance.
The 2023 general election is just less than 9 months away. Ekiti and Osun state off-cycle elections are taking place on the18th of June and 16th of July respectively. It is again expected of the electoral umpire to prove itself by delivering a credible and democratically satisfying election, especially with the introduction of the 2022 Electoral Act. But the Boko Haram conflict that defined the 2015 general election is yet to be quelled, with bandits operating across the northwest, violent secessionist agitation spiraling in the southeast and farmer-herder clashes ongoing across the country, the 2023 election is set to take place amidst nationwide insecurity.
It would be preposterous and outlandish for us to refer to the rights of the people to the few available basic necessities of life as the dividends of democracy. If we do, then we can also say that there is democracy in a dictatorial and authoritarian regime, since these amenities are also available in such regime.
We may therefore conclude that what is ordinarily the dividends of democracy include a free and vibrant press, respect for human rights, free and fair elections, due process and rule of law, an enterprising civil society, and freedom of religion, thought, and speech among other things. Within this ambiance, one can say that Nigeria is yet to practice true democracy. Nigeria may be experiencing its longest run of uninterrupted democracy but the quality of it remains very much in need of improvement.
In Nigeria, we owe ourselves and the unborn generations the responsibility and duty of correctly applying the principles and ideals of democracy, in order to provide the necessary ambiance and conditions for citizens to realize their yenning and healthy aspirations. Until then, the dividends of democracy will remain a burgeoning mirage. And what a pity it is!
EBERE CHUKS O. is a social commentator. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter