By Adegbeyeni Abiodun (Sagacious)
Twenty one years ago in an epoch held at the nation's capital, Abuja. The Nigeria's military handed over power to an elected civilian leader. History reveals that generals had ruled the country for the previous fourteen years. The occasion which was said to be grand was attended by delegates from over fifty countries of the world. The then elected civilian leader promised heaven and earth to make life better for the people of Nigeria. Abraham Lincoln rightly said democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people but twenty one years after; is democracy in Nigeria good to be true? Have we even come close?
The yearnings for a new Nigeria against all odds had become imperative for all Nigerians at home and in diaspora. This is because the intents and labor of our heroes had turned to a mirage. It's quite pathetic that Nigeria is still far from being the dream country for her citizenries. The democratic system of government practiced in Nigeria has been directionless to say the least. After giving myself to a meticulous study of Nigeria's political space vis-a-vis democracy for the past thirteen years, I discovered that political office holders only go there to exercise authorities rather than enacting policies channeled towards the betterment of the country.
Is democracy worth celebrating when we still have leaders who wield and arrogate powers to themselves? What is the joy of democracy when those who are democratically elected are characterized by perfidy and mendacity? It's saddening that those who have looted the government's treasury would enthrone themselves as godfathers and start parading all over the place, violently winning elections, depleting the masses of their modus vivendi and amassing wealths for themselves. To say there is no transparency in the political space of Nigeria would be an understatement.
On the pecking order of the 2019 transparency international corruption perception index, Nigeria slipped from 144th to 146th by falling 26 points, a minus of one when compared to its score in 2018. Nigeria remains one of the most corrupt nations of the world. An anti-corruption fight was launched in May 2015 by the FG to checkmate corruption but since then, corruption waxes strong daily under its watch. Some toothless bulldogs who should be neutral in their fight against corruption are being used to silent oppositions. A power drunk sycophant once said that your sins are automatically forgiven if you join the ruling party regardless of the amount you might have stolen.
When you lend your voice on anything that affects the nation, they come after you. When you stand for what is right, you automatically become their enemy. Many of them have even professed to be greater than Nigeria. They are buccaneers who have depleted the country to a state of comatose. Nigeria, a land flowing with milk and honey now flows with acrimony, ill feeling, ethnic cleansing, mass murder, tribalism, hegemony and kidnapping to mention a few. The security state of the country is becoming porous each passing day and people can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.
Despite the humongous budget presented every year with all the paddings, the state of the nation's sectors like economy, health, education, agriculture and others are still nothing to write home about. How can we talk about a new Nigeria: when people are being impoverished and leaders living large? When lawmakers are enacting laws that suit themselves? When the son of nobody cannot become somebody without knowing anybody like someone said? When we are more divided than ever? When a region is claiming ownership of Nigeria? When we have a president who has lost touch with reality?
Aren't we phantasmic of a new Nigeria: when our leaders still play hide-and-seek? When some so called cabals are still holding Nigeria to ransom? When Christians are still gruesomely murdered in the northern part of the country with little or no action to bring perpetrators to book? When the best jobs are reserved for the children of the creme de là creme in government? When the wealths of the nation are being stolen abroad? When some group of people could still eat their cakes and have it? When billions of naira is approved to renovate an ordinary building while Nigeria remains the headquarter of poverty?
I laughed this morning when the president said he has recorded notable achievements when it's glaring this repressive government is the worst ever in the history of Nigeria. A government that continues to plunder the country into perpetual debts. The many secrets of this wicked governments can only be revealed to Nigerians when they are no longer in power and that is why they are giving it all it takes to remain there. By and Large, they are aware Nigerians have rejected them after deceiving us with their change and next level mantras.
Even in this trying times that governments in some countries of the world are responsible for the welfare of their citizens, reverse is the case in Nigeria. We have a government who doesn't care about the hunger ravaging our land. Everyone now fights for survival because all hope in our government is lost. There have been calls from different quarters for separation because our amalgamation profits nothing. If truly Nigeria is ready to practice democracy the way it is, then there is need to revisit the 1999 constitution with the effort of civil society. Salaries of political office holders should be slashed. I posit that would stop the desperation and killings to assume power and only those who are ready to give quality service to the populace will contest elections. Then and only then, we can dream of getting to the threshold of our El Dorado. Happy Democracy day, country people.
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