By designating June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria, former President Muhammadu Buhari heeded the popular demand to further immortalise the winner of the June 12 ,1993 election, Chief MKO Abiola and put a balm on the wounds inflicted on millions of Nigerians who exercised their franchise in that historic election. That election, adjudged to be the fairest and freest in the history of elections in the country, was whimsically annulled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida. The ensuing backlash led to the demise of that administration. The colossal loss of lives and livelihoods, political and economic setbacks wrought on the nation was worsened by the tragic death of the winner of the election and his wife, Kudirat Abiola, who was assassinated in the course of the struggle for actualisation of June 12 election. With such a monumental loss to the nation, the day of hope was turned to hopelessness, more or less.
But the annulment and subsequent chain of events became a platform to reflect on the future of Nigeria in general and of democracy in particular. It birthed a movement against dictatorial rule, toppled illegitimate governments and subsequently led to a democratic civil rule in 1999. For more than two decades, the civilian rule has endured, warts and all. But can Nigerians say the gains of democracy have translated to better lives for the greater majority? Certainly not.
So, beyond the fanfare and euphoria of Democracy Day, those who operate the levers of power at all levels, must now brace up to deliver the dividends of democracy as envisaged in a democratic setting and as enjoyed by those nations from which we copied this modern form of government. Agreed that democracy is not the be-all and end-all in ending poverty and guaranteeing development in society, there are basic minimum guarantees expected in democratic settings. Nigeria is yet to hit that minimum and if leaders do not brace up to their duties, it might take a long time to get there, and in fact, getting there may be a mirage.
Succeeding administrations since 1999 have promised to alleviate poverty, guarantee security, end corruption, grow the economy and guarantee employment to the increasingly despondent emerging youth population. Serially, these promises have been breached to the utter consternation of the populace. They watch as the poverty gap widens between the rich and the poor with the rich flaunting wealth obscenely and the poor watching helplessly. The youth are frustrated by endless promises that are never kept. In one unguarded moment, the youth vent their anger through a mass rebellion codenamed #EndSARS in October 2020. Even though the movement was hijacked by untoward forces, the point was made. And that point still remains germane: that if the leadership does not brace up and pay true allegiance to their avowed roles, there will be consequences.
So, to solidify the gains and visions of democracy, as Democracy Day is meant to encapsulate, the leadership must take seriously the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy as enshrined in Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution (1999 as amended). For now, those provisions are not justiciable in spite of the fact that they remain the raison d’être of governance. But the moral and ethical imperative is for those who exercise power on the polity to uphold these principles at all times. Otherwise, they lose the moral authority to superintend the polity.
Among other germane provisions, the Constitution under the Fundamental Objectives requires government to be run as a state “based on the principles of democracy and social justice” and subsection (b) of section 14 stipulates that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” State officials need to bear these doctrines, and others equally critical, in mind and in deeds if democracy is to have real meaning for the masses of Nigerians. To underscore the gains of Democracy Day, The Guardian believes that governments at all levels must privilege the welfare and security of the people over other mundane considerations.
The followership must also take seriously their own roles of keeping government on their toes by insisting on their rights and privileges. A situation where the followership take decisions on the basis of base sentiments, ethnic and religious inclinations cannot enthrone the true leadership seriously desired. The followership must realise that the leadership protect themselves to enjoy their privileged positions. In having access to these privileges, the leadership does not consider ethnic or religious sentiments. They come together as a family in camaraderie. No east, no west, no south or north to consider. It is only when they need to garner followers that they display the mantra of ethnicity, religion and other divisive proclivities. It behoves the followership to be vigilant and support issues that will alleviate their situations.
To realise the expected gains of democracy, the leadership must move beyond speeches, fanfare and sanctimonious pontifications and deliver on their mandates by guaranteeing security and welfare of the people they are elected to lead. It is only then that Democracy Day will be seen as a day of hope fulfilled and a guarantee of great future for Nigeria.
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