Perhaps I should ask the question this way: Do we really practice democracy in this country?
Going by Abraham Lincoln's definition of democracy - the government of the people by the people and for the people, I am getting confused as regards whether Nigeria is really practicing democracy or some other form of government we may not really be able to find a suitable name to.
To say the bitter truth, we are practicing a form of government where the people, in most cases, don't choose leaders for themselves. It is either a powerful politician with money to bribe some ignorant voters and the electoral umpires will rig himself into power or a powerful cabal made up of a few individuals will use their influence to bring any politician of their choice into power.
Another sad reality is that when these individuals get into power through such undemocratic means, they seek to rule forever even when the people are obviously tired of their rulership. When they had to leave office because the Constitution no longer permit them to continue, they made sure they choose someone they like (against the choice of the people in most cases,) to succeed them.
This is very rampant in the country, as we all know that most of our present governors were brought into power by our former governors. So where does the people stand in this system of government? Where do they come in? Where do we partake in governance as even our opinions are not needed by those in power?
Why do we keep deceiving ourselves every 29th May that we are celebrating democracy when what we have at best, is demo (power) and not democracy. Demo simply means power, but when you add cracy, the people are involved. We should stop celebrating democracy in this country until the people are involved in governance through the following ways: 1. Our politicians should stop influencing the people with money or violence to vote for a candidate that is not their choice. 2. The electoral body should bring a voting system that ensures that the votes of everyone counts. 3. The opinions of the people should always be considered by those in power.
If we don't have this, then democracy has failed in our country. And what has failed is not worthy of celebration.