Developing Democratic Ethos In Nigeria

Today is Democracy Day in Nigeria. It is
expected to extol the qualities of that
system of government, encourage the people to embrace it and perhaps serve as a barometer for the measurement of democratic ideals and institutions in Nigeria.
Commendable as the initiative may be there are many things that would make the observance of the day rather selective, sectional and of a little value to some Nigerians. Even worse  is the standard of living and security situation since the nation claimed to practise democracy.
In the first place, it is a shame that Nigerians do not appear to agree on what the true Democracy Day is. Some still think June 12 is the day and have continued to make a huge fuss out of it. Our country cannot continue to be divided on this simple matter. It is really not about the day, but about the concept.
On another hand, scholars say Nigeria has not attained democracy yet, but civil rule. They have a lot of indices to support their position. This, incidentally, should not be a minus, but a challenge for Nigeria to work harder at developing the environment for democracy.  Just as Nigerians have envied the developed democracies and referred to them, let the courage to be democratic in Nigeria arise.
Perhaps, we should note the conclusion of a writer that says democracy is not the best system of government, but it is better than the others. Its centrality on people and the role they are to play and the benefit for them made democracy the preferred system. Democracy also has its weaknesses because the majority is not always right. Sadly, it serves to perpetually subjugate the minority.
Because we want all Nigerians to accept today as the true and only democracy day, and because we expect Nigeria to become truly democratic, we wish the government and people of Nigeria a very fruitful Democracy Day. When applied without minding whose ox is gored, democracy can actually provide the basis for peace, growth and order in Nigeria.
From the people it was copied from, democracy provides a free market environment that supports the wealth acquisition of the people on the one hand and the power of the people to elect their leaders on the other. Of course, it ensures the separation of powers, rule of law and security of the land. It will be awesome if the average Nigerian can say that the same is happening in Nigeria now.
Over the years, some persons in the political class have erroneously referred to the provision of infrastructure as the dividend of democracy.   This is about the least expectation from a functional democracy. The safety of the people, their ability to participate in the economy and the government without necessarily becoming politicians and the freedom to speak and to elect their leaders remain the challenge.
Also of note is that democracy runs with the principle of federalism. Incidentally, our country is called the Federal Republic of Nigeria that operates a unitary system. Not only has the political class lacked the courage to do what is fit and proper, some of them have decided to do the kind of evil even the military feared to do.
Although, special Christian and Islamic services have been held to mark the Democracy Day, it takes much more. Also, the President might address the country, but Nigeria needs men who can stand for the right even though heaven fall. In fact, the system does not work itself, people do. But how many Nigerians are truly desirous of creating and sustaining a democratic landscape?
What many Nigerians have come to associate democracy with is crisis, secret killing, corruption, lawlessness, disrespect for leaders and the politicisation of every single thing. Many of them have wondered whether these are the things they should continue to contend with. Are these are the ingredients of democracy in Nigeria.
For the celebration of democracy to make the needed impact, the authorities should come up with a yearly theme that would address specific areas of democracy as it affects the people. Also important is for public officers that undermine democratic processes to be brought to book and made public.
In another one year, Nigeria will be going to the polls, can the people truly elect their leaders or some god-fathers would hand-pick governors, legislators and local government chairmen? This perhaps is where the change should begin. We must develop the needed democratic ethos.
Nigeria is the most populous African country and the leading light of the black race. Nigeria cannot afford to play with the demand for democracy any longer. We expect the on-going National Conference to deal with this subject, but let every public office holder take lectures on democratic processes instead of wasting money on meaningless trips overseas that do not transfer the needed values.