Democracy is widely accepted by both laymen and political scholars as the government of the people, for the people and by the people* To endorse this concept of democracy, BBC Dictionary defines Democracy as “ a system of government or organization in which the citizens or members choose leaders or make other important decisions by voting* ”It is pertinent, if one really wants to review how coherent the definitions above are, for one to consider some basic phrases which are salient to the concept discussed* Phrases such as “of the people; for the people and by the people” are very much germane* They all suggest the place of cultural, social, intellectual and religion cohesion in Democratic system of governmentComplementing the above definitions is the tiers of government which enables every inhabitant taking any part of the nation Democracy is practised as haven to partake and enjoy the benefits such system of government offers Hence the sub-division of the government into three which are Federal Government, State Government and the Local Government* I need not to recount such functions of each section of government mentioned* The cogent fact is that they all lay their hands on deck to foster good governanceUnfortunately, I am yet to comprehend such systemof government operating in Nigeria Fine, all the attributes depict in the concepts of Democracy are well featured in the polity and governing of the country except the expected core return of good lifeand unending flow of dividend of self-governancetothe most silent or blurring areas of the country* The implication loudly perceived here in Nigeria about Democracy has only degenerated the conventional concept to the government of the elite politicians, for the elite politicians and by the elite politiciansNever a new news that Federal Government and may be two out of thirty-six states in Nigeria could pay salaries and other allowances as at when due This barbaric, inhumane and anti-progressive ideas of owing the peasant workers their constitutional rights has flag off many unimaginable fracases in almost every part of the country* The utmost irony making conundrum out of this salary saga is the simple fact that some political offices have the constitutional backup for the payment of their salaries and allowances direct from the source* This implies that no matter the low in the allocation or income of the country per month, the president and some other key positions get their salaries first before thinking about how the nation will move forward* Same thing flit to the governors at the state levels* Isn’t this sadden and funny?Of the truth, the federal government of Nigeria has been wonderful to her workers in ensuring that they get their welfare packages, despite the stable swindling of our common resources since 1960 by leaders turn robbers* I think they have minor consideration that federal workers, just like them, have many responsibilities as family men and women* Perhaps they are not opportune to loot the treasure through frivolous award of contracts, their dues as workers must be released to them appropriately* This is what is obviously absent in the den of “hyenas and jackals” running the states inNigeria* They feed on even the bones of their workersConfusingly, this very loyal federal government has been the object of attacks from every meaning Nigerians irrespective of their social, religious or educational background This is one-sided focus state governors and local government administrators have been enjoying*(To be continued)
