We have jointly hoped for a better Nigeria, still it seems ours is a failed State. The truth is, no president can save us, and neither would any particular government or political party. The problem faced by Nigeria is not the lack of electricity or basic infrastructure; these are just resultant effects that stem from the original cause.
The origin of our problem is the failure of a certain arm of our democracy. Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as “A government of the people, for the people and by the people.” In this definition there are 2 arms of democracy mentioned, the first is Government; while the second is PEOPLE. A government is not absolute; the people who are the second arm have the responsibility of checking the government, the same way the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative arms of government also serve as a check on one another. Whenever, the People abandon their responsibility as watch dog over the government, it allows the government to flout in its duties thereby resulting into a breakdown in the wheels of democracy itself.
This is common in young democracies, which can be found in Africa. Countries like Nigeria whose democracy is quite young, unlike democracies like that of the United States which is over 200 years old. Democracy is not a form of government where the People sit down, fold their arms and expect things to be okay. We also have a strong role to play in our Democracy and we must protect such fundamental rights that belong to us. Nigerians are yet to fully grasp the concept of Democracy; its principles and the power entrenched in the people.
This power is illustrated in the preamble of the 1999 constitution which states;
“We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God, dedicated to the promotion if inter- African solidarity, World peace, international co-operation and understanding.
And to provide for a constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people.
Do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves the following Constitution"
Democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system."
In other to reap the benefits of democracy, the Nigerian people must fight for the following;
• Sovereignty of the people.
• Government based upon consent of the governed.
• Majority rule.
• Minority rights.
• Guarantee of basic human rights.
• Free and fair elections.
• Equality before the law.
• Due process of law.
• Constitutional limits on government.
• Social, economic, and political pluralism.
• Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise.
We must regain our fundamental rights, we must control our government, and work with knowledge that ultimate power is vested in we, the PEOPLE, not in the President or the National Assembly. Our government has failed us and it is time to exercise that power. Express your dissatisfaction in the government through whatever medium you have;
• Post it on your doors
• write it on your t-shirts
• shout it on social networks
• protest in the streets
• reach out to these leaders
• Importantly do not vote for mediocrity in the general elections
• Choose your Representatives carefully
• Be the change, we want to see in our society, and
• Completely shun corruption
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