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Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? - Politics - Nairaland

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Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 12:41pm On Jul 26, 2015
I've been watching the developments in our country's democracy and I've had cause to ask myself this pertinent question..

*Is democracy the best system for Nigeria*? 

There is a great truism that Nigeria was relatively peaceful during the military regime bar the june 12 saga which was saw the enthronement of democracy in our country see the light of day, however we should not forget that a day in democratic rule is better than 100 years of military rule.
 
In Nigeria today, the alarming rate of violence, corruption, nepotism, religious intolerance, embezzlement and what nots have cast a dent on our democracy. Every Nigerian is always at bated breath when elections draw nigh with the attendant violence, assasination, criminality, ballot snatching, lies, propaganda, rigging, imposition and just any evil we can think of which, dismally becomes the order of the day. We pray the elections come and go no matter who is declared the winner because we are tired of the bloodshed and fear brought about by the elections. Is that what democracy entails for us?

Democracy has been defined as government of the people by the people and for the people, Democracy was started by the Greeks in ancient times but modernised by the west to be the best form of representative government. The West foisted it on third world countries, including Nigeria. That said, I am of the opinion that democracy has brought more divison and violence than peace to Nigeria. 

Nigeria's road to democracy in 1999 started with the election of Olusegun Obasanjo as president, OBJ bastardised every tenet of democracy by his corruption, election rigging, embezzlement, opposition muzzling, destruction of the principles of separation of powers, infrastructural decay, sales of government assets to cronies among other gross malfeasance. 
Obasanjo is the harbinger of the problems which bedeville us by reason of conducting the worst election in the history of Nigeria. 

Nigerians breath a sigh of relief when his tenure ended even though he wanted to amend the constitution to suit his third term ambition. Shehu Yaradua succeded Obasanjo but his tenure was shortlived due to his death in office and hence, the subsequent elevation of Goodluck Jonathan to the presidency. GEJ as he was fondly called started on a bullish note but  the forces of evil reared their ugly heads using religious terrorism and media propaganda to further their cause, as expected, the government almost came to a grinding halt.

GEJ was everything Obasanjo could never be, he allowed the opposition to grow, he organised the best elections twice and the opposition won states that hitherto were not possible during Obasanjo tenure. Muhammadu Buhari won the election after running a campaign of calumny, lies, propaganda, child voters, intimidation and threats.



PMB as he is called today may have taken us back to the Obasanjo days. How else can we explain his style of intimidation, tribalism, NASS interference, selective justice, vindictiveness, and muzzling of the opposition.
PMB needs to make our democracy work, he needs to give all tribes a sense of belonging, create a strong middle class, tackle insecurity, allow for true separation of power and most importantly fiscal federalism.

If all these are done then I'd be happy to say that *Democracy is the best system for Nigeria*

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Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 12:43pm On Jul 26, 2015
g
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by illmatic101(m): 12:47pm On Jul 26, 2015
If only the southwest will wakeup from their slumber, hmmm if only sad sad sad
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Otherique: 12:49pm On Jul 26, 2015
Unfortunately, the Masturbating Masturbators will call you the wailing wailers.

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Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 12:52pm On Jul 26, 2015
PMB is everything a democrat can never be.

Dearpreye, whynotthetruth, barcanista, mogidi, firefire, ambivert, francizy, nigeriavenom, anonimi, altiwireless, Hzrf, shorty, candyrain, isrealiAirforce, Afam4eva, gaborone nwadiuko, pazienza and other patriots.

Have we really enjoyed the benefits or dividend of democracy

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Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 1:11pm On Jul 26, 2015
Thank you @ Ecoterrors.

Democracy may not be the best form of government but it is unaguable the best form of representative government. The problem with Nigeria is not the "democracy" itself, rather it is with the political players. Our attitude to power and positions is more or less as a means to reign, we see it from the business angle where winners takes all. Some people will even go as far as whipping up ethnic and religious sentiment just to grab power. What we get is a situation where electoral victors see their victory as conquest and then move to consolidate their hold on power by getting everyone to "fall in line". Unfortunately, some people are taking this to be "normal". We saw how Obasanjo went beyond his power to seize funds belonging to LASG all because of political disagreement with then Gov Tinubu. He (Obj) held on to his ground even against the ruling of the Supreme Court. We witnessed situations where governors muscle out opposition in their domain, assassination was so common etc.

Democracy will work IF we want it to. As for Military, it's a No-no!

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Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 1:23pm On Jul 26, 2015
A despot at 40 is a despot for life!

A despot never changes his ways.

A sectional bigot can not be expected to change even in his old age.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2642558_roadhighwaybluegenerator_jpeg855a70eb2d07abff4c56b74b4ecd643f

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Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by OKNkanu(m): 1:23pm On Jul 26, 2015
Democracy is the mouth that is sucking dry the succulent breast's of Nigeria..... Believe it or not!.
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by MizMyColi(f): 1:24pm On Jul 26, 2015
The version of democracy being run is Nigeria is a very Warped and Twisted kind.

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Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by coolestrogue(m): 1:25pm On Jul 26, 2015
ECOTERRORS:
PMB is everything a democrat can never be.

Dearpreye, whynotthetruth, barcanista, mogidi, firefire, ambivert, francizy, nigeriavenom, anonimi, altiwireless, Hzrf, shorty, candyrain, isrealiAirforce, Afam4eva, gaborone nwadiuko, pazienza and other patriots.

Have we really enjoyed the benefits or dividend of democracy

1 Like

Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 1:35pm On Jul 26, 2015
barcanista:
Thank you @ Ecoterrors.

Democracy may not be the best form of government but it is unaguable the best form of representative government. The problem with Nigeria is not the "democracy" itself, rather it is with the political players. Our attitude to power and positions is more or less as a means to reign, we see it from the business angle where winners takes all. Some people will even go as far as whipping up ethnic and religious sentiment just to grab power. What we get is a situation where electoral victors see their victory as conquest and then move to consolidate their hold on power by getting everyone to "fall in line". Unfortunately, some people are taking this to be "normal". We saw how Obasanjo went beyond his power to seize funds belonging to LASG all because of political disagreement with then Gov Tinubu. He (Obj) held on to his ground even against the ruling of the Supreme Court. We witnessed situations where governors muscle out opposition in their domain, assassination was so common etc.

Democracy will work IF we want it to. As for Military, it's a No-no!
There are few third world countries that got it right , In africa there is no country where democracy is not made mockery of. We need to look for a system that favors us and not a situation where tribal and religeon sentiments are the hallmarks for voting
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 1:40pm On Jul 26, 2015
OKNkanu:
Democracy is the mouth that is sucking dry the succulent breast's of Nigeria..... Believe it or not!.
democracy allowed for a thousand illiterate voters that voted out of sentiments to cancel 999 educated and enlightened voters that voted for merit


Lalasticlala, ishilove fp please
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 1:44pm On Jul 26, 2015
WombRaiders:
A despot at 40 is a despot for life!

A despot never changes his ways.

A sectional bigot can not be expected to change even in his old age.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2642558_roadhighwaybluegenerator_jpeg855a70eb2d07abff4c56b74b4ecd643f
the North will continue to subjugate the South with numbers because of democracy that is a game of numbers. Sham

The north will always determine what happens in the country because of democracy. Sham

Why should Jigawa have more representative than Lagos in NASS if not for democracy. Sham

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Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Candyrain(m): 1:56pm On Jul 26, 2015
Democracy is good but what we have in Nigeria is what I call "militalized" democracy. It's never gonna work and if Nigeria must work then that system got to change and practice what the real thing is.

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Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:10pm On Jul 26, 2015
ECOTERRORS:
There are few third world countries that got it right , In africa there is no country where democracy is not made mockery of. We need to look for a system that favors us and not a situation where tribal and religeon sentiments are the hallmarks for voting
We already know that kind of system that will favor us. The system of pre-1966 but with improvement.
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:15pm On Jul 26, 2015
barcanista:

We already know that kind of system that will favor us. The system of pre-1966 but with improvement.
Regionalism, the North will never allow for it

The imbalance in the system today favours the North thats why PMB can appoint only northerners and we are reminded that they gave him the highest number of vote.
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:17pm On Jul 26, 2015
Candyrain:
Democracy is good but what we have in Nigeria is what I call "militalized" democracy. It's never gonna work and if Nigeria must work then that system got to change and practice what the real thing is.
Which African country should be a model for democracy. Id rather be ruled by a Libya under Gadaffi than the so called democratic Libya we have today
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by omolami: 2:19pm On Jul 26, 2015
FORGET ABOUT DEMOCRACY AS LONG AS ITS BUHARI THAT IS IN POWER FOR NOW. HE IS AUTOCRATIC, DESPOTIC AND A TERRORIST. LEOPARD DON'T CHANGE ITS SKIN
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Mogidi: 2:39pm On Jul 26, 2015
PMB as he is called today may have taken us back to the Obasanjo days. How else can we explain his style of intimidation, tribalism, NASS interference, selective justice, vindictiveness, and muzzling of the opposition.
PMB needs to make our democracy work, he needs to give all tribes a sense of belonging, create a strong middle class, tackle insecurity, allow for true separation of power and most importantly fiscal federalism.

The future suddenly appears bleak under Buhari's watch..
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:39pm On Jul 26, 2015
omolami:
FORGET ABOUT DEMOCRACY AS LONG AS ITS BUHARI THAT IS IN POWER FOR NOW. HE IS AUTOCRATIC, DESPOTIC AND A TERRORIST. LEOPARD DON'T CHANGE ITS SKIN
#LOL
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:42pm On Jul 26, 2015
From my perspective, democracy isn't the problem. The real problem is the senseless, anti - progressive, corruption - inducing version of democracy that we practice.

We are notorious for abusing systems other nations have used to their own benefit and progress.
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:43pm On Jul 26, 2015
Candyrain:
Democracy is good but what we have in Nigeria is what I call "militalized" democracy. It's never gonna work and if Nigeria must work then that system got to change and practice what the real thing is.

I've said the above over and over and over.
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:44pm On Jul 26, 2015
ECOTERRORS:
Regionalism, the North will never allow for it

The imbalance in the system today favours the North thats why PMB can appoint only northerners and we are reminded that they gave him the highest number of vote.

I hate hearing THE NORTH WONT ALLOW IT, though that's the salient truth. These folks are frustrating the growth of this nation, and we must seek a way to let off their grip.
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:46pm On Jul 26, 2015
ECOTERRORS:
the North will continue to subjugate the South with numbers because of democracy that is a game of numbers. Sham

The north will always determine what happens in the country because of democracy. Sham

Why should Jigawa have more representative than Lagos in NASS if not for democracy. Sham

All these were carefully and smartly designed and carved to suit their selfish desires. It didn't happen today. It was a demonic design conjured up by these folks up North.
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by francizy(m): 2:50pm On Jul 26, 2015
That's what we get when we have ourselves in one place with people who we share nothing with, be it politically, religiously or ideology. Nigeria will have been better a four or five countries than one, only then will things probably work..



I only see BIGOTOcracy practiced in Nigeria..
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:52pm On Jul 26, 2015
ECOTERRORS:
Regionalism, the North will never allow for it

The imbalance in the system today favours the North thats why PMB can appoint only northerners and we are reminded that they gave him the highest number of vote.
It is a serious problem my dear
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 2:54pm On Jul 26, 2015
francizy:
I only see BIGOTOCRACY here oh..

Bro, I'm yet to understand this new version! Could you explain please?
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by horlabiyi(m): 2:54pm On Jul 26, 2015
Once a Dictator Always a Dictator. The born to rule are not interested in Democracy all they want is just POWER and now they have it and using it anyhow they like.
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by mikolo80: 3:00pm On Jul 26, 2015
horlabiyi:
Once a Dictator Always a Dictator. The born to rule are not interested in Democracy all they want is just POWER and now they have it and using it anyhow they like.
Shebi election is coming in 2019,we'll see whether they won't be tamed. they need middle belt(forget that north central bullsheet) and either west south or east so they must learn to share power and resources so you guys need to stop sensationalising 'born to rule ' cos they can't rule if south starts bombing them
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by francizy(m): 3:00pm On Jul 26, 2015
dearpreye:


Bro, I'm yet to understand this new version! Could you explain please?

What and how can you explain situations where people vote based on personal/tribal interest and not based on one's achievements? As if that's not worse, they go ahead to threaten people with different mindset from theirs and call them unthinkable names.

GEJ just proved to me that Nigeria doesn't deserve a democrat and the best way to rule in Nigeria is to go up there, gag the press, hunt opposition and use EFCC as a ready tool for harassment of public office holders, only then can you win a reelection (whether majority of the masses want you back or not).

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Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by Nobody: 3:02pm On Jul 26, 2015
francizy:


What and how can you explain situations where people vote based on personal/tribal interest and not based on one's achievements? As if that's not worse, they go ahead to threaten people with different mindset from theirs and call them unthinkable names.

GEJ just proved to me that Nigeria doesn't deserve a democrat and the best way to rule in Nigeria is to go up there, gag the press, hunt opposition and use EFCC as a ready tool for harassment of public office holders, only then can you win a reelection (whether majority of the masses want you back or not).

These are odious trappings of an unreformed dictator moving around in the grabs of democracy.
Re: Is Nigeria Still Towing The Path Of Democracy? by francizy(m): 3:04pm On Jul 26, 2015
mikolo80:
Shebi election is coming in 2019,we'll see whether they won't be tamed. they need middle belt(forget that north central bullsheet) and either west south or east so they must learn to share power and resources so you guys need to stop sensationalising 'born to rule ' cos they can't rule if south starts bombing them

Horlabiyi is right and whoever fails to see the writings on the wall right now is only leaving a dream and not yet in reality. If I may ask, how do you get the north out when we have a divided south and north central? Do you think it's possible? Do you think we southerners can ever walk/work together in unison like northers? Do you think our politicians can ever come together and drop their ambitions for one of their own, just to have their own in the seat of power? The earlier we realise how difficult these things are, the better for us all...

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