Their authority was personal, derived from charisma or rank, so that the choice for the people, so far as they had a choice, lay between the demagogue and the general. Some were good, some were bad,  but all lacked systematic political backing.

They were obliged, therefore, to rely on their wits or swords. The natural outcome of any regime without focus becomes either an entrenched tyranny or constant shifts and instability while freedoms are curtailed or abused on the plea that the autocrat or the one party state would be more efficient.

But such regimes failed to deliver the goods. Industrial and commercial failure became the order of the day, roads and educational institutions decayed, and the health system deteriorated, with corruption at all levels and sectors thriving.

The instability of the Nigerian state and its disappointing performance are due to the kind of leader who power poverty, corruption and crime in swollen proportions. They indulge in ill-conceived and ill-managed economic policies which produce crippling external debts.

This is against the principles of a strong economy, which is the prime element in political power and in the public glare, while economic weakness and inequality promote disorders.

The political independence and sovereignty of Nigeria had not been able to assuage the height of poverty plaguing the citizenry and remove dependence on other counties. The country’s trading system among other trading nations still suffers some barriers in tariffs and quotas as the economy weakens day by day, despite the fact that Nigeria has entered the international economy.

Worse still, the country’s economic ties with other nations are not properly protected due to the corrupt tendencies of our leaders.

Nigerian manufacturers are ill-equipped for international economic competition and they produce inelastic goods for which demand (except in the case of oil is less than world standards. The effects of economic recession is clearly marked on the faces of majority of the nation’s populace and there is desperate poverty, in some areas famine.

The rich are getting richer, while the poor soar in abject poverty. Governments at all levels have talked for decades about poverty eradication without implementing the policies.

The time is, therefore, ripe for new measures to be devised principally to rescue the country’s numerous industries and other sectors of the economy to create wealth for the citizenry and afford radical relief. The current ‘cold war’ and tensions among the ranks of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country is a detraction from the main problems of the country.

The focus of the government should be rested upon chiefly paternalism and not plots to unseat one another for personal aggrandisement.

The purpose of democracy is to allow the citizenry-ruler or ruled to acquire special rights and enjoy the dividends of power trusteeship, because when leaders are installed after elections, what the electorate expect is service delivery.

Nigeria is rich in human and material resources and these resources are meant to be used to transform the lives of the people through the provision of infrastructure and poverty alleviation. The rules governing the country and its economy must be strictly and religiously enforced and adhered to since the emergence of a democratic rule in the country is seen as a blessing and not as a curse, hence it must be used to drive national development.

The political nature of Nigerians is that which seeks gratification and self-aggrandisement or greed, and where everyone is a law unto himself, thereby, creating a state of war of all against all. In this situation there is no leisure, no peace or culture but only constant fear of violent death.

The is unacceptable to the political order as it breeds hostilities and political disorder. There should be stainless respect and loyalty among the ranks of the ruling class. We must strive to get out of this political quagrnire bearing in mind that Nigeria’s democracy is still nascent and does not require political radicalism capable of truncating the system.

People feared democracy in Nigeria due to radicalism extremity of some players which had led to loss of lives in the past.

The best thing to a common good in Nigeria is the maintenance of political order which enables people to go about their selfish pursuits without destroying one another. “Government exist merely to maintain order for the physical security of its subjects,” says Hobbes.

According to him, the executive as the only beneficiary of an undertaking which other people have made among themselves, is a party to the contract to set up government and is obligated by the terms of the contract, especially to enforce the law of nature and the right of nature judiciously.

In the words of Abraham Lincola, “We have inherited a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people. The right to participate in governing ourselves in order to protect our rights and promote our common welfare carries certain responsibilities.

Among these responsibilities are the need to develop the knowledge and skills to participate intelligently and the willingness to promote liberty and justice for all. It is the responsibility of the leaders to administer the programmes and policies laid-down for the restoration of the severely battered or damaged economy to make it essentially sound and skilled economy with powerfully engendered financial aid impelled both by generosity and fear of corruption and collapse.

Governments should find out or identify the immediate needs of the people through valuable economic surveys, bisect them for economic as well as political purposes.

Political culture is very important and too important to ignore. Our state and society have changed immensely since democracy came in but the underlying culture has remained recognisable the same.

There is, therefore, the need for our politicians and leaders to develop a potential lever to change their behaviours towards politics and governance.

Nigerians and the world at large are watching the roles of our political institutions and their impacts on the country and the people.

Recalling Nigeria’s history and political culture will go a long way in effecting change in the political activities of Nigerians and also strengthen the political system of the country.

History is beyond manipulation and culture is difficult to change.

Political parties in the country can operate differently but must understand that history and culture are important and determine the success or failure of a country or its democracy.

If the nation’s democracy is to function well, the thinking of our politicians and leaders must go beyond voting in elections and occupying positions. They should know that they are entrusted with great responsibility of serving the people and ensuring the delivery of democratic dividends.

Shedie Okpara