Is Democracy for Nigeria?

Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is about eight times as good as any other method the human race has ever tried. ~ Robert A. Heinlein

Democracy is a system of government in which the masses (people of the state or country) have ultimate power of governance either through elected representatives or direct voting (or so they make us feel in Nigeria). Democracy is governed by three arms of government: The Executive (The President), the legislature (senators and members of the House of Representatives) and the judiciary (in charge of the courts).  Democracy also involves the use of the rule of law. The rule of law states that "you are bound by due process and must obey the decisions of the Judiciary."

These three work to administer, establish and interpret the law respectively. The arms of government are not supposed to interfere with one another but that is clearly not the case in Nigeria. Democracy like every other thing we possess (except our tribes and culture) was handed down to us and as expected, has been contaminated and ridiculed. For this reason and a lot more, I opine that democracy isn’t for Nigeria. We aren't even a democratic country. The word is just used to mask the autocratic system of government we practice.

First off, Nigerians are an indiscipline lot. We need a kind of discipline that democracy cannot give to us. We have no sense of responsibility. That is why we can hold a position in trust (the peoples trust and mandate) for the general good and steal millions of naira for the enrichment of ourselves. We are characterized by the ineffectiveness of the arms of government. The judiciary has failed in its duty to interpret the laws. Letting criminals go free or dragging cases of corruption in court till the accused dies. Do we want to talk about the legislature? They are the “supposed” law makers and so far, they have made only laws that suites them. With the majority barely attending plenary meetings, the rest go there to talk about why child marriages should be legalized and turning the senate to a religious gathering arguing the need to throw out the gender equality opportunity bill. People who were elected by vote of confidence to make laws that better our lives and promote our well beings have done nothing in that direction. The arms of government keep interfering with each other (behaving like they do not know their respective duties) and there is no more separation of power leading to dictatorship.

Elections in Nigeria are never free or fair defeating the aim of democracy. The majority do not get who they want. They are imposed on them by the political elites through rigging of the elections, and selecting of the candidate who runs for the party. So how then does the power belong to the people? You are just given candidates to choose the lesser evil. The masses are manipulated and brainwashed into picking a candidate based on what he can offer them especially those in rural areas. They are gifted with food stuffs, clothes, household appliances and so on. Sometimes they are even given money to swing their votes in favor of a candidate (the highest amount being 1000 naira). So how then can we say we practice democracy? What part of democracy do all of these fit into?

Finally, in  a true democracy, authority advances upwards from the masses to the elected. But in Nigeria, they can shuffle the senate whenever they like and oppress us however they please. You cannot even catch a glimpse of the person you voted into power. Now how dare you even demand things be done correctly? They would make your life miserable and fellow Nigerians are sure to support them in their ignorance and stupidity.

Nigeria needs a system of government that takes her country, culture and their ways of doing things into consideration. We need a system of government that gives us the leverage and liberty required of every human but a strict, firm guide against indiscipline and nonentity. A system of government that indeed upholds human rights and tackles corruption head on without letting governors and those in power loot throughout their tenures before taking actions against them. Nigeria needs a system of government where those elected into power cannot pass a bill increasing their allowances to 300% of their salaries without being questioned by anyone; a system of government where non adherence to the law is not taken flippantly. This system isn't working for us so we must try something else after all, a group of people created this democracy.