Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Democracy derives its roots from the ancient Greek City of Athens. Democracy is a Latin word.” Demos”, meaning people, and Kratos, meaning rule.
The current Western democracy being practiced in Nigeria began in Greece, where people converged at a public square, the Assembly, to discuss issues bordering on the affairs of the state. Later, it became obvious that not everyone would come to the Assembly Square to deliberate on state affairs due to the increased population. So, the matter of selecting people to be present at the square came up. This is how the brand of representative democracy we are practicing came to be. Democracy moved from Greece to the United Kingdom. A version of practicing it with a mixture of a monarchical system was introduced. It spread fast to other parts of Europe and America. Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy is the most famous. He sees it as “the government of the people, by the people, and for the people “. This presupposes inclusivity, participatory, accountability, and most importantly, people’s free÷ will to elect their leaders.
However, democracy’s fastest growth was due largely to unipolarism, following the death of bipolarism , basically because of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Before then, there was a bipolar world. The USSR, now fragmented into several sovereign republics, held very strongly to socialist ideals. Socialism, as still represented today by the Republic of Russia, was the system of government adopted by a majority of countries in Eastern Europe. Russia spearheaded its exports to other Countries, such as Cuba, Vietnam,
Mongolia, Colombia, Poland, etc. Russia also tried to promote socialism in Africa. But the socialist orientation failed upon the defeat of the USSR by the Western allies.
Before the spread and subsequent acceptance of democracy as the best form of government across the globe, nations, empires, or territories were ruled by either Emperors, Kings, or Queens. The military capabilities of an Empire or kingdom determine its extent of geographical coverage. As the expansion of such territory depends on dexterity in war times, which often results in the subduing and conquering of another territory.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the West found it easier to market democracy to the world. The inherent characteristics of democracy and its key elements also helped to facilitate its growth across the globe. Modern societies find such attributes appealing and acceptable.
For instance, its cardinal principles of freedom of expression, movement, association, accountability, transparency, observance of fundamental human rights, due process, and above all, Dice’s concept of the rule of law made democracy a phenomenon.
The conceptualisation of democracy and its practice in civilised climes guarantees total freedom of individuals to fully exercise their potential without any subjugation.
It confers on an individual the right to make choices: of trade, vocation, worship, association, and political participation. These rights, as well as the dignity of humans, are highly respected and religiously guarded where democracy thrives.
Democracy, as a Western concept of government, is widely accepted as the best system of government because of the aforementioned.
However, in Nigeria, democracy has been adopted as a form of government. But in actual practice, the tendencies are at variance with the known ethos globally. It is difficult to say that the tenets of this liberal democratic concept are being observed by the political actors, including those in and out of government today.
There are various forms of rights abuses, and freedom of expression is gagged. People are afraid of freely speaking up for fear of being victimized. Civil space and participation in governance are shrinking as debates on public matters are often tele-guided. There is absolute fear of intimidation by those who hold contrary opinions. Not too long ago, a President and a beneficiary of Nigeria’s democratic process, referred to an election to choose his successor in office as a “Do or Die Affair”.
Election, ideally, is a key component of democracy. It provides a platform for assessment of the government’s performance, periodic change as specified in our ground norm. (Constitutions ).
There is a growing public resentment on the exessence of democracy in Nigeria today. Even though it still remains the best system of government. Many now see political actors as state captors. And not participants in democratic processes.
Our brand of democracy is such that almost everyone struggles for a position to have access to the resources of the state, and not with a heart of service. There is the death of ideological belief.
Today, Nigeria’s democracy stands the risk of gravitating towards a One-party state as it is a practice in socialist dominated enclaves where leaders exhibit dictatorial tendencies. A one-party state is fundamentally wrong for Nigeria. Because it is antithetical to freedom of choice, as the party in power can monopolise the rights to make decisions without input from citizens.
This would not auger well for a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-religious society such as Nigeria.
A one-party state has the potential ingredients of sliding into despotism. sittightism, autocratism, which are in sharp contrast to democratic ideals and values.
There is, therefore, an urgent need for all citizens, especially beneficiaries of the current democratic environment, to unite and work collectively towards strengthening the democratic principles and ideals to enhance national development.