Over the last couple of weeks, Nigeria has been in a celebratory mood especially among the ruling political class. While elected officials used the 29th of May to showcase their midterm scorecards, 12th of June was celebrated nationwide as the official Democracy Day of the nation, with a public holiday to boot!
Outside the celebrations and self eulogies by political office holders, those occasions should actually have provided them the opportunity for deep reflection and sincere introspection of the democratic journey so far….as would be the story of true Democrats.
*QUESTIONS:*- Is Nigeria’s still fledgling democratic journey a classic case of motion without movement?- For indeed, apart from the obligatory periodic 4 year election cycles, are the actual democratic tenets taking firm and sustainable roots in the country?- Are the political parties striving towards establishing recognisable ideological patterns?- Is the internal democracy within each of the political parties getting institutionalised?- Are political representatives of the people truly accountable to their electorates?- Are party manifestos implemented by winners of elections or do they just do whatever catches their fancy once they assume office?Hmmm….food for thought!!!These, and many more, are the questions that should agitate the minds of true Democrats, as we observe the annual hollow rituals of May 29th and June 12th Democracy Day celebrations.
For most of us who joined the political movement with so much enthusiasm and a burning desire to make a change in order to advance desired democratic tenets, the democratic journey thus far, has unfortunately become progressively depressing. What we’re witnessing now:- Internal Party democracy has gone. – Imposition of candidates is commonplace.- There is no accountability by elected officials.- After two years in the present dispensation, there does not seem to be any visible and tangible achievement that inspires hope generally.
– The much celebrated Local Government autonomy seems to have ended with the Supreme Court pronouncements. – The Presidency and the Governors seem to have reached a mutually beneficial compromise to maintain the status quo for their own electoral security in 2027.
For our democracy to grow and give hope to the younger generation, the enlightenment of the electorates to participate and take ownership of the democratic process, must be a matter of state policy. Only an enlightened and fully involved electorate can hold political office holders to account and engender true democratic practices.
On the occasion of this midterm evaluation of our elected officials, we are therefore advocating for more participation of our youths, women and indeed, all members of our various communities in the democratic process.
In conclusion, our democracy, hopefully, has come to stay and we can only sustain it by getting a majority of our people to participate fully in the democratic processes. Similarly, we also urge all elected officials to redouble their efforts, remain accountable and extend democratic dividends to the people!
Long live Cross River State! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
*HH, Chief Akin Ricketts* Obol Nkama of UgepObol KeponVillage Head of Aboni
*Convener:* Concerned Cross River Peoples Forum.
*June 2025*
Chief Akin Ricketts is former Commissioner for Information and Orientation CRS as well as former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
