Our country, Nigeria, has been rated one of the best, if not even the best in Africa. She rig is also incontestably the most populous black nation in the world blessed with abundant natural resources and these are some of the peculiar factors that make her stand tall among her counterparts. Like every other country in Africa, with an exception to Ethiopia, Nigeria was once controlled by foreigners and was specifically controlled by the British of which the first Governor General was Sir Lord Lugard whose wife actually named the country “Nigeria”
meaning “Niger Area.” As time went on, great Nigerian nationalists like NnamdiAzikwe, Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello and many others decided to brace themselves up to the task of gaining independence for the country. Although, it was not an easy task, they ended up as victors, which helped Nigeria gain independence on October 1st 1960. This day is now celebrated every year in Nigeria as her Independence Day.
This achievement gained by Nigerians marked an end to the “somehow” oppressive rule of the British and provided the opportunity for Nigeria to be ruled by Nigerians. The political quagmire that befuddled Nigerians for nearly two decades actually began with the military intervention brought via the 1966 coup. These military leaders employed what can best be described as leadership by force. This continuous reign of terror by the military leaders brought about complaints by Nigerians as this reign led to various military coups, especially the successive coups of 1966 which was one of the remote causes of the Nigerian Civil War. The military rule in Nigeria lasted for over 19 years after which there was an inception of leadership by civilians presently known as democracy.
Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. The enthronement of civilian rule was intended to produce a much more transparent government which would help improve the condition of this country. This system was believed to involve the citizens in their choice of leaders. It also helped civilians vote their ideal leaders into political positions and this has been the system in the country since May 29, 1999 when democracy took root in Nigeria and it is usually celebrated on the 29th of May every year.
Democracy has been considered ineffective considering the fact that there has not be significant difference between the military rule and the so-called democracy. Nigerian civilian leaders have proved to be as oppressive as the military rulers as people are forced to vote for unwanted candidates.They now practice government of some people, by some people and for some people. This system of government in which political positions attained by people are supposed to be by free and fair elections has not only been compromised but also abused. There is now constant rigging of elections leading to countless cases of election petitions. Our socalled democracy is even controlled by the same people who were part of the military rule and now they pretend to be practicing democracy whereas they are actually military men in civilian clothing.
If true democracy must be achieved in this country, we must begin to conduct free and fair elections. The bedrock of true democracy is the conduct of free and fair elections. Where the electim erocess is compromised,there is no democracy. Nigerian leaders must evolve mechanisms for the conduct of free and fair elections before talking about bringing the dividends of democracy to the people. The era of abracadabra elections must come to an end. lNEC should live up to its responsibility and conduct credible elections into public offices. Existing laws should be invoked against individuals arrested, prosecuted and convicted of involvement in election malpractices to serve as a deterrent to others.
I look forward to a time when Nigerian governments will truly be the government of the people, by the people and for the people
