Now That Our Democracy Is Officially Now An Adult - Politics - Nairaland
Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › Now That Our Democracy Is Officially Now An Adult (527 Views)
| Now That Our Democracy Is Officially Now An Adult by Focepsalmson(op): 8:27am On Jun 12, 2017*. Modified: 1:22pm On Jun 12, 2017 |
While flipping the pages of punch newspaper dated 29th May, 2017 to be precise, I stumbled on the phrase "NOW THAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS OFFICIALLY AN ADULT" coined by one of the prestigious banking name: First City Monument Bank (FCMB) which in the spirit of citizenship I guess, decided to felicitate with Nigeria as she was celebrating her eighteenth year of progressive (you might say) sustenance of democracy. The above phrase struck me which has spurred me to delve into the reality of this phrase. As we all know, there are actions that would be seen and overlooked when a child misbehaves because it is believed that the thinking faculty of such a child is way primitive in classification and as such hammering stringent sanctions would be tagged irrational though am not faulting the place of discipline. But when the child attains a level of appropriate intellectual reasoning, then the grown child is in for corrective measures and possibly harsh scrutiny so as to send the message of transition from one phase to another. Celebrating our eighteenth year of successive democracy transition isn't out of place but we mustn't fail to acknowledge or be ready for scrutiny as regards how we have acted thus far or probably corrective measures to ensure we don't walk with a child's mindset in an adult world and act blind whereas we would be left behind wallowing in childish political ideologies. For a number such as eighteen, it would point us to the reality that a stable, working and active democracy should have been developed and all other aspects be matured but this is not the case as several maladies are causing slips which hinders a forward march for a more actualized democracy. Starting from the year 1999 where it all began with our then president Olusegun Obasanjo till now, I won't want to categorically say that it's been a matured development rather a 'toddler' like growth, fluctuating over failed elections, rigged elections, unpreparedness for the future, siphoned funds and malnourished meals of democracy served to Nigerians seeing that it's all a ball game of the elephants rather than the grasses and also the surrounding. Democracy in itself has a sting of self-lessness which anyone desiring to be stung by the responsibility of being empowered to see the good of the people and the society at large rather than the proposed selfish desires of self aggradizement and fattening exercises through the nation's treasury targeted at development but this is not so. Nigeria's democracy has never been a reality as the ones voted in (not all though) turn their backs on the very ones that brought them in. Much promises which were made during the campaigns turn out a mirage as only what soothes the heart of the party, it members and their proposed form of progress rather than the needs of the people and the society which faults the notion of full representation. One would ask if these so called leaders have the people at the peak of all mountains in their eyes. Representation as the word connotes is only a term rather than a realistic word. If these our leaders of ours could only decide to be voted in and stand for credibility rather than a thirst for unending power as it is on some cases where a serving leader continually oscillates from one portfolio to another having not achieved anything worth recognizing to qualify him or her for the new portfolio. It saddens my heart when all we see is show of supremacy from party loyalists rather than a driven goal of purpose on transforming the country of which people who voted them are in. I would further like to ask those presently in power what constitutes their motives: to serve, to be in power, stand in prestige or create channels to be a partaker of the national cake. |
| Re: Now That Our Democracy Is Officially Now An Adult by samisj4real(m): 8:30am On Jun 12, 2017 |
cant read, too long |
| Re: Now That Our Democracy Is Officially Now An Adult by Focepsalmson(op): 8:32am On Jun 12, 2017*. Modified: 1:26pm On Jun 12, 2017 |
CONTINUATION These questions if put forward to our leaders would birth "deceitful answers" from many of our leaders on which few will be represented by their current oasis of deeds which backs up their answers. Many wrong notions are scattering all over the place which are responsible for the incessant electoral violence which have plagued our democracy and it's history. I find it unimaginable how the same leaders set-up hinderances (in the name of miscreants, ballot box hijackers and so on) to ensure that the tides are under their control rather than in the hands of the people. One would wonder what then is "democracy" if force and other dubious means are employed to ensure a particular party or candidate is voted in. Where then is the power to decide when it's about parties with the most dirtiest card play on the table that wins the day. The ills are far too numerable to quantify as the slogan of democracy deceivingly enraptures the nation as we dread the outcomes of an ousted democracy. Not too long ago, a ruling party in one of the states was to conduct primaries for the local governments which turned out to be an unimaginable sight as it didn't fall through owing to reasons embedded with the party, it's make-up and loyalists. This brings the search for backings that our democracy is indeed a stable one as the backlash of these occurrences won't be swept under the carpet. It beats my imagination that one of the tiers of government which is directly in contact with the people is jeopardized by plagues such as this from the ruling party. Democracy did not play out there as imposition was employed and the people fought against it. In the natural human ideology as we have drawn, when one is eighteen years of age, it connotes maturity, freedom and some grants of privileges. One would be able to get a driver's license, probably open a bank account (as am not sure with the various bank opportunities) perhaps get married and so on. If our democracy is then tagged mature as we have heard, then what are the actions portrayed to really express this present status, what are the giant of a well worked out toddler years on readiness to stand for a future that would be commended when questioned about the reality of freedom. Have we hoisted the deceit flag or democracy flag in its reality, have we given the autonomous power as it should be to the people and not an abstract, is the country's democracy a matured one, are the leaders past sending a positive message to us now for a hoped future, are there plans to ensure that the ills of the past do not repeat themselves as we head out to the nineteenth year of our democracy. These and many more should be the questions our leaders should be answering and with answers worth acceptable. It's high time the term democracy be visited and be actualized rather than framed up for a sustained inactive Nigeria. To our future leaders, present leaders, unborn leaders, I would say let democracy take its place and not a forced democracy. Let the votes count and not popularity, let the deeds of a leader's past speak rather than politically affiliated pledge, let the democracy work so as to hold the people empowering responsible for any outcome rather than a numb society wanting a sheep only to be gifted a wolf. Written by Focepsalmson © |
| Re: Now That Our Democracy Is Officially Now An Adult by Focepsalmson(op): 8:32am On Jun 12, 2017 |
samisj4real:It would be worth the time I assure you |
| Re: Now That Our Democracy Is Officially Now An Adult by Larryfest(m): 8:52am On Jun 12, 2017 |
Nothing matured about this democracy... |
| Re: Now That Our Democracy Is Officially Now An Adult by austinvsb1(m): 12:39pm On Jun 12, 2017 |
Focepsalmson:Change the colour to the default black. It would make for an easier read |
| Re: Now That Our Democracy Is Officially Now An Adult by Focepsalmson(op): 1:29pm On Jun 12, 2017 |
austinvsb1:Done... Thank you |
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cant read, too long