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Tuesday, 11 February 2020

NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC SAGA

By Friday Omosola

Democracy they say is the government of the people by the people and for the people. Encyclopedia opines that, it's the rule by the people, especially as a form of government either directly or through elected representatives.

Nigeria known as the giant of African supertur around the system as a government under the dictatorship or mediocre rule the people of its jurisdiction.

Democracy first appeared in ancient Greek political and philosophical thought in the city-state of Athens, during classical antiquity to bring the citizen closer to the government with the word demos, "common people" and Kratos, "strength." Led by Cleisthenes, where Athenians established what is generally held as the first democracy in 508–507 BC.

Before June 12, 2019, May 29, 1999 used to be the official democracy day in Nigeria, which marked the instalment of the newly elected president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1999, ending multiple decades of military rule that began in 1966, and had been interrupted only by a brief period of democracy from 1979 to 1983.

Democracy since Obasanjo's instalment as the president, has turned "crazy democracy," sung by late Nigeria popular rapper "Dagrin," who saw Nigerian political leaders as crazy beings.

Notwithstanding, characteristics of democracy are meant for the citizens, not political leaders and their families; freedom of speech, freedom of movement, right to education, freedom of religion and right to vote etc, which encompasses the 250 ethnics groups in Nigeria.

Freedom of movement and obeying of rule of law had been said to have dead ages, most especially during the ruling of President Muhammadu Buhari and his cabinet.

Recalling, Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) for February 2019 general election, and convener of RevolutionNowProtest, who was detained illegally by the men of the Nigeria State Security Services (DSS), alongside his counterpart Bakare, after being granted bail consecutively.

Gaining independence in 1960 and being a Republic in 1963, has turned the country and its authoritarian seat of power to mediocre and ages seat of power. Old days, free education and job opportunities for the youths, irrespective of certificates were enjoyed.

The United States with two political parties was among the oldest modern democracies, but it is only the oldest if the criteria are refined to disqualify claimants ranging from Switzerland to San Marino. Some historians suggest that the Native American Six Nations confederacy (Iroquois), which traces its consensus-based government tradition across eight centuries, is the oldest living participatory democracy. Others point out that meaningful democracy only arrived at a national level in 1906, when Finland became the first country to abolish race and gender requirements for both voting and for serving in.

Conclusively, Nigeria can not be made a point of good reference as touching democracy amidst her contemporaries, until the political administration of Nigerian States is drastically reformed.

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