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29th May: a Day to Ask Questions About Democracy


Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day on this very day i.e. 29th May. The day is celebrated as a result of the country's escape from military junta in 1999. Congratulations, fellow Nigerians!

Whenever I hear or read the word 'democracy', my mind reflects the origin, meaning, aims and objectives of a democratic system. Abraham Lincoln had theoretically put forward the definition of democracy as the government of the people by the people and for the people. As crystal clear as the definition sounds, it is so shocking that I have been always getting confused whenever I read it. Yes, I fail to understand, and I have realised that I am not the only one.

Thus, this seriously invites the question why folks like me are confused despite the lucidity of the definition. Is it because what I see, hear and perceive as democracy in my country is a different version of Lincoln's definition? If that's so, then my [our] confusion is not a result of academic dullness but wrongness on the reality of democracy in Nigeria.

The system means government made of the generality or representatives of the people, formed and installed by the people and a government that exists for the welfare of the people. So sad to say that the welfare of the people is narrowed to only those in the corridors of power. In fact, that's what brought a Nigerian version of the definition of democracy as the government of the father, by the mother and for the children.

It is my humble view that 29th of May should be a day to remind ourselves the true meaning, origin, aims and objectives of democracy, critically examine the Nigerian version of democracy and see whether it reflects the true attributes of the system. It should be a day to look at the barriers stumbling our democracy so as to proffer solutions. It should be a day for the government to study what the people at the grassroot are saying concerning the running of the government. But I deem it wrong to make 29th May a day only to squander public fund in the name of celebrating democracy without much being done to ensure its proper and smooth operation.

I therefore, urge fellow Nigerians both the leaders and the followers to have a quite different approach to 29th May; a civilised approach that would take our democracy from grass to grace.

By Abdul Mutallib Muktar

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