Democracy presupposes good and representative governance; a majoritarian rule governed by the rule of law, the supremacy of the constitution, and the respect for human rights. Anything short of this is no longer a Democracy or an egalitarian rule, but a contrived semblance of what should be right that is wholly wrong.
In a Democracy, the voice of the people is heard, and their aspirations and desires are embedded in the state’s overall struggle for the good of the majority. When this is absent, it becomes something akin to a mere assemblage of rules that favours only the powerful at the helm of affairs and their cronies.
In a democracy, the constitution represents the actual yearning of the people, a solution to their potential mutual suspicions and a reassurance of a peaceful coexistence regardless of numerical or economic superiority or strength of one over the other. If it is not so, such a document has become only a reference piece of information used by the powerful to oppress the less powerful or the rich against the poor.
In a democracy, the average life and well-being of the citizens are guaranteed. The fundamental obligation of the government is to ensure that the protection and safety of lives and properties are upheld. When it is not so, such a society becomes like the Hobbesian State, where life is nasty, brutish and short.
Now, it is against this backdrop that one would begin to look at our democracy, starting from the June 12 struggle and its undulating ramifications. It is a fact of modern history that Democracy in Nigeria did not start on June 12, 1993. But that historical date redefines the Renaissance and the actual struggle for representative governance from the military-political class, which seems to emasculate democracy by deliberately undermining the popular mandate of the people.
This makes “June 12” and its Icon, Chief MKO Abiola, a significant reference point and a watershed in the discussion of the present and future growth of Democracy in Nigeria, relevant to all. It reminds us of a time when Nigerians voted overwhelmingly beyond the limits of ethnic or religious hurdles for one man who they thought could make a difference as citizens in a nation bedevilled by intricate contradictions and despair.
The aftermath of that election led to the various factors, favourable and unfavourable, that delivered to our doorstep, the current democratic dispensation, euphemistically referred to as the “Fourth Republic”. This has become Nigeria’s longest representative dispensation right from independence.
Away from the historical storyline of our nascent democracy, one needs to ask about the progress so far made, if any, since the advent of the 4th Republic, in terms of development, representation, the rule of law, electoral maturity and above all, the security of lives and properties in our nation.
While one cannot arguably deny the little progress made in our democratisation process, which, of course, comes from the very fact of the longevity of the 4th Republic itself, we cannot also roll out the drums of celebration when we have both children and women held in their various abodes of captivity in the bushes.
We cannot roll out the drums to celebrate Democracy when elections are still treated as declared wars of some sort by the political elites who live and breathe electoral politics of conquest and supremacy. How do we celebrate Democracy Day when a mother who sent her ward to school can no longer sleep because her child and her teacher have been spirited away to the bushes by heartless marauders and kidnappers?
Of what use is this Byzantine democracy where the Political elites treat political parties as all-purpose vehicles, only to be used to win or rig their way to power? This is the reason I find it emotionally insincere to wish anyone a happy Democracy Day today. Kindly understand with me.
