The Challenge Of Democracy

It was a foremost Greek Philosopher, Socrates, who said, Democracy must fall because it will try to tailor to everyone. The poor will want the wealth of the rich and democracy will give it to them. Young people will want to be respected as elderly and democracy will give it to them. Foreigners will want the right of natives and democracy will give it to them. Thieves and fraudsters will want important government functions, and democracy will give it to them. And at that time when thieves and fraudsters finally democratically take authority, because criminals and evil doers want power, there will be worse dictatorship than in the time of any monarchy or oligarchy.” What seems to be a prophecy by Socrates about 2, 624 years ago, has translated to a reality. Today, people in developing democracies of  the world are at a cross road, whether to settle for democracy or military rule.
The reasons are not far-fetched: the dictatorship and dictatorial tendencies, bare-faced corruption with impunity, selfishness, mediocrity, tribalism and nepotism, among several other vices, characterise democracies of developing nations. These anormalies further underscore the support for military intervention even though military intervention in constitutional democratic rule is a gross aberration. What could explain the jubilation and commendation that greeted the take-over of power by the junta in Niger Republic. Majority of common people came out in solidarity and support of military coup despite the opposition of, and condemnation by some developed democratic government and regional governments of Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).
With fairness to my conscience and respect for grandnorm, which thrives on the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights, most democracies are a far-cry from what democracy entails. So many of the people who expect the  dividends of democracy but finding none, see military intervention as a respite to failed promises, unpopular economic policies, lack of development blue prints, lack of security of lives and property and and absence of welfare for their citizens.Taking a cursory evaluation of democracy in developing nations, it seems that it is being operated by people who do not have the interest of the people they purport to represent at heart. Ideally, democracy should not depart from the core- value of “Government of the people, for the people and by the people”. The import of such value is that power  stems from the people, the legitimacy of any government is the prerogative of the people.
Consequently, those who are leaders of the people should at best be described as stewards who are accountable to the people and holding the resources of the people in trust. They should not see themselves as demigods or godfathers, they should not accept worship and should not invent a master-servant and lord-slave scenario, the temptation of abuse of office notwithstanding.When such happens, they lend credibility to Socrates postulation that, “when thieves and fraudsters finally democratically take authority, because criminals and evil doers want power, there will be worst dictatorship than in time of any monarchy or oligarchy”.In its real sense and practice, I consider democracy the best type of leadership for any people because nobody has the right to think for  or rule a people without their consent. Dictatorship is not fashionable anywhere, even by God.
Though sovereign and has the capacity and capability to do whatever he wants to do without offering explanation for his actions, God respects the will of man. And though reasonably “autocratic”, God rather appeals  than compel humans to do his will. Respect for the will of man as expressed in choice of who should leader them, should be the essence and core of democracy. Though, people including, political scientists  have noticed much to their chagrin the apparent sliding of democratic governance to dictatorship with impunity in many developing nations, especially in Africa where good and effective leadership remains a puzzle. What could dispose to such unacceptable situation is because, inordinately ambitious “criminals and evil doers” borrowing the words of Socrates, want to lead by all means, by hook and by crook even though it requires shedding human blood and resorting to unprintable practices to achieve power.
Democracy is a function of good and people-oriented leadership. The people know what is good for them, even as the leaders should also know the felt need and be proactive to address. When this is not done then protests and civil disobedience, as experienced in many African countries, become inevitable. The people’s loyalty to the government can no longer be guaranteed. And what follows is strike action by labour unions, civil society organisations and professional bodies to drive home the grievances of the people and a clamour for a credible alternative in leadership. Democracy in developing countries seems to be rejected by the people in preference for the unpopular military regimes because of the deviation from the tenets of democracy. As a political system or a system of decision making within an institution, democracy was a  sophisticated system of rule which originated from the Athens. The beauty of democracy was that all members of society have equal share of power, through their representative(s).
Today, where is Africa and other developing democracies in governance? Let our leaders demonstrate democracy in its real practice and give a flicker of hope to the people. Democracy is a popular type of leadership but the operators of the democratic institutions can make it unpopular and a failed system.

By: Igbiki Benibo