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PSEUDO

DEMOCRACY

WHAT TRUE DEMOCRACY ENTAILS
IN NIGERIA:

BY LOT ATILE AND ANDREW OKOJOKWU

Can we really call what is being practised in Nigeria
democracy? Because, what we vote for and what we get are
INTRODUCTION two different phenomena: after planting apple, we ended up
harvesting pineapple. What we practise in Nigeria is a pure
ristotle stated categorically in dictatorial system of government: It is an autocratic form of
his discussion on political government which is characterised by a leader or a group of
Athought that "it is good that leaders, who hold governmental powers with few to no
the state is a creature of nature and limitations. Politics in a dictatorship is controlled by a
man is a political animal". This did not dictator, and it is facilitated through an inner circle of elites
necessarily imply that man is a that includes advisers, generals and other high ranking
politician; but rather, that man can officials (Cobban 493).The citizens also cannot however reap
only attain good life if he lives in a the dividends of a democracy when they are actively involved
Polis or City/State. As a consequence in promoting and enshrining an electocracy in the name of a
therefore, it is very obvious and democracy. We must ensure that we educate ourselves so
beyond doubt that man flourishes that we do not remain ignorant of the wiles of the enemies of
optimally in a democratic state. our democracy who are here to steal our commonwealth, kill
the future of our children and destroy our livelihoods. If we fail
According to Mainwaring as quoted to arm ourselves with knowledge and education, we have
by Ngbea, "Democracy is that only ourselves to blame if they continue to run circles around
institutional arrangement for us! The dividends of an electocracy are oppression,
arriving at political decisions in which compromised judiciary, ineffective law enforcement that
individuals acquire the power to oppresses the people instead of protecting them! These
decide by means of competitive dividends are wealth concentrated in the hands of politicians
struggle for the people’s vote" and their families while the general population suffers
(Ngbea 14). Democracy is the process unemployment and poverty! Can these be disassociated
in which a representative is elected from Nigeria’s politicians and their craft? This is left open for
on behalf of the masses to act at their judgment.
expense.
IS NIGERIAN POLITICS DEMOCRACY OR DICTATORSHIP?
Nigeria as a country is marred with
political and leadership problems “If the blind leads the blind, both will end in a ditch”: this
that make one wonder if the country amazing quote subtly puts the responsibility on you, whether
is still a democratic state. There is you can see or not and whether you are ignorant or not, you
common saying that one cannot are to ensure that those you follow, those that lead you are
grow an apple tree with the aim of not in the same incapacitated position as you. Your ignorance
gathering pineapples, and it is a will not save you from the ditch. We must brace up because it
mistake to think that just because is purely dictatorship, where the votes of the masses do not
pineapples contain the word “apple” count but are rather being manipulated and unvoted leaders
in their name that they are one and forced on the masses. An example of this was what happened
the same. Just because you call what in the 2023 general election which was actually bad. Cobban,
we have in Nigeria a democracy, does thus describes Dictatorship as the government of one-man,
not make it one. The fruits define it! who has not primarily obtained his position by inheritance,
This has remained a great injury to but by either force or consent, and normally by a combination
Nigerian politics that may not be of both (493). It is only in Nigeria that electoral activities
healed in any foreseeable or belong solely to the upper class and it is being regulated: it is
proximate future. In every society, the my turn.
method of governance differs and as
such, there is no template for an ideal WHAT DOES TRUE DEMOCRACY ENTAIL?
society as it regards to human right To start with, for Nigeria to really practise democracy, all
and freedom. citizens, including politicians and government leaders, have