Baloney And Hopeless Nigeria 's Democracy
By

Philip Odoemena

Odobi@aol.com

Questions: Are Nigerians hopelessly devoted to democracy or are they miserably created to die in silence in a supposedly democratic environment? Is it possible for Nigerian leaders to make intelligent decisions about the eroding state of affairs in the country if they don't understand the difference between the myths of pseudo-democracy and the benefits of true democracy? Are those in power having problems noticing the lucid expressions and the distress signals emanating from the majority of the people, or are those in power deliberately forcing Nigerians to a dangerous plunge into darkness that threatens their most basic freedoms?

It wasn't too long ago, in fact, less than five years ago, Nigeria changed from military rule to a democratic system of government. Prior to 1999, Nigeria had tried democratic rule at several periods but were interrupted each time by the military. As much as it is difficult to completely avoid referencing the good years of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and President Nnamdi Azikiwe, who will forget the difficult times experienced by President Shehu Shagari and his Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme. The difficult times not withstanding, Nigeria and Nigerians have not, in the entire history of the most populous black country in the world suffered or gone through the grave times that more than seventy five percent of the people have found themselves in the last five years.

In the present political dispensation, in which Nigeria calls Democracy, I find it to be more of a Representative Democracy or a Packaged Politics, to say the least. Democracy is supposed to bring in absolute freedom; unfortunately, such freedom has not been in existence, at least, if measured by the ability to vote in Nigeria . The breath of those who commands wealth and power measures freedom in Nigeria . A democracy where the powerful has better health care than the poor, better transportation, more food choices, better homes, and freedom from disease. A democracy where the powerful and the wealthy are free from the deadly effects emanating from the escalation of violence and human rights violation throughout the country.

From 1999 to date, a lot has happened and still happening in Nigeria . For example, evidence from all angles has pointed that both the 1999 and 2003 general elections were fraudulent. In the April 2003 general elections, those who witnessed the activities during and after the elections described the events as horrendous. Just imagine waking up in the morning and seeing military and law enforcement agents armed with machine guns, surrounding every nook and corner, and you're not allowed to move freely. Imagine the horror of observing gun-welding solders at the voting booths, while you were there trying to exercise your voting rights.

Imagine the eerie sight of witnessing someone that you know being shot to death because he refused to be subjugated to someone else's will. Now imagine experiencing not just one but all of these horrors almost at the same time. Just imagine, watching the stuffing of ballot boxes and you stand there but cannot do anything about it. Those are just part of the terrifying, electrifying, awe inspiring swirl of events that dominated election 2003 in Nigeria . Having read the reports from the International Organizations and hearing from the domestic observers concerning the atrocities and the irregularities that mired both gubernatorial and presidential elections.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria has experienced more political assassinations than ever in the history of the country. Only five years into democracy, political killings, disappearances, and torture are the order of the day in Nigeria . Isn't true that murder is unlawful, felonious, sin against God, and is an anatomy of genocide at its highest point. Why must our leaders and politicians have short-term personal interests rather than long-term national interest? Having gone through civil war, military regimes, social crises, and ever ending religious problems and ethnic conflicts, how could one be insane enough to be killing human beings for purely political reasons? 

A nation with a severely corrupt political and legal system and desperate poor populace has more serious problems to contend with than killing her politicians. Nigeria already has a history of been labeled a blood-drenched nation. Why killing more people in the name of politics or religion. A country cannot continue these endless catalogues of bloodbaths and genocides and still hope for progress. More so, when you have a society where democracy has gone awry, corruption in the political system out of control, ex-military generals determined to rule, and civilian politicians armed with retribution on their minds, the result becomes a society where quality of life for all, but the wealthy, go from intolerable to even worse, especially, to the very poor. Yet, people believe that true democracy exits in Nigeria .

The drive for political power has given way to a less ambitious focusing on the economy and the poor. There is lack of government's concern about the apportionment of the wealth of the nation and the welfare of ordinary citizens. There is lack of attention to the anomalous political, social, and economic conditions of the certain geographical zones, and to a greater extent to the minority people. Recently, the ethno-religious conflicts endemic to the cities of the North erupted again, so far, the country's most popular politicians, especially those in the current administration seemed indifferent to unity issues. Instead, they are consistently exploring the politics of wealth driven by self-interest. What a fractured democracy, yet people are fearfully and hopelessly devoted to the current democracy. What a shame. What a nation. How long would this situation linger on in Nigeria ? What would Nigerian people do to bring about appropriate reform in that system? What would occur to effect a societal change in that system? These are million dollar questions that only Nigerians can answer.