Dividends Of Democracy; Reality Or Mirage? -By Ebere Chuks Onuedem

Democracy, according to a former American president, Abraham Lincoln is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. In other words, a democratic government is one in which the people (common masses) truly have a say in who should hold power.

Dividends of democracy, on the other hand, are those benefits that the masses enjoy for being in a democratic government.

Nigeria as a nation has celebrated 14 years of uninterrupted democratic rule spanning from 1999 when the military formally handed over power to civilian rule, till date. Election was conducted which saw Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sworn in on the 29^th of May 1999 as the first president of the 4^th republic. Hope was high, expectations abounded and anticipation heightened as Nigerians look up to the newly constituted democratic government to salvage the despaired state of the nation. Fortunately, the democratic government has remained for fourteen 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 the dividends of democracy are not been enjoyed by Nigerians.

A closer look at the Nigerian system will reveal a grave undemocratic society.

Insecurity of the Citizens

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 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 occasional 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 source 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.

Election 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 ran 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 election malpractices such as ballot box snatching, hooliganism, miscount of votes, coercive voting, election result protest, election petitioning, even to the extent of appealing on election judgments decided by the election petition tribunal. This obviously does not speak well of a democratic government where the majority voice of the common masses should be the engine of the nation’s drive to development and good governance.

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 includes 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 ambience, one can say that Nigeria is yet to practice true democracy.

In Nigeria, we own ourselves and the unborn generations the responsibility and duty of correctly applying the principles and ideals of democracy, in order to provide the necessary ambience 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