Leading UK financial magazine, The Economist, has released its Democracy Index for 2015, in which countries, including Nigeria, are ranked by the strength of their democracy.

The ranking, which covers 165 independent countries, pegs Nigeria as 108 and describes its democracy as a “hybrid regime.”

This label is often used to describe governments that keep citizens from enjoying basic civil liberties. It is often used interchangeably with “empty democracy” or an “illiberal democracy.”

Nigeria sits far behind the highest ranked African nation, Mauritius, ranked 18.

On a scale of 1.00 – 10.00, The Economist ranked Nigeria’s Electoral Process and Pluralism as 6.08, Functioning of Government as 4.29, Political Participation as 3.33, Political Culture as 5.00, and Civil Liberties as 4.41.

Nigeria’s democracy had an Overall Score 4.62.

This is the nation’s best score since 2006 as it had been within 3.00 to 3.99.

Even as low as this score is, The Economist described Nigeria as a pace setter in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially with the successful 2015 election that brought President Muhammadu Buhari into power.

Despite this fact, the publication ranked other African nations far higher.

The Economist however still ranked Botswana (28), Cape Verde (32), regional neighbours Ghana (53) and even Burkina Faso (106) higher.

Norway, Iceland and Sweden are the highest ranked on the Democracy Index, while Chad, Syria and North Korea are ranked lowest.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.

Perhaps if we can be less partisan, we can put our hands together to build the nation regardless of which party is in power. When we fail to do so we all suffer. It's time to break out of this loop once and for all.

This people should leave Nigeria alone. We will get there soon.