Managing Democracy in Africa

June 12 memories remains evergreen in the hearts and minds of Nigerian whether democratic by pronouncement, association or in practice as well as amongst the un-democratic in our midst.

So many years after the initial flicker of light into the world of democracy, we are still struggling to consolidate on the gains supposedly accruing from its establishment. We still grope in the the darkness of corruption, mal-administration, nepotism, ethnicity and allied dark practices. Who is to blame?

It may not be the best of time to apportion blames but we should be resilient and ready to learn and accomodate each others views so that we will be united in Managing the mega fortunes that June 12 brought our way in its wake.

Managing democracy in Africa is an uphill task and will remain a mirage unless there is a genuine effort by African leaders to go beyond selfishness and dishonesty to make policies that are people oriented; until then Democracy will remain a Mirage in Many African countries not only in Nigeria.

Ali Mazrui throws more light into ‘Why Democracy is still a Mirage in Most African Countries’ in his review of the post elections crisis in Kenya and the aftermath of Zimbabwe’s in-conclusive elections; he asks, how can democracy in Africa be better Managed? Can we anticipate better some of the pitfalls? To these he posits thus;

Democratisation needs to be planned; it calls for a sense of direction and specific stages towards fuller implementation of its agenda. Planning includes multiparty convention to discuss fully the rest of the stages towards fuller democratisation. (Ali Mazrui)

We may have tried a bit of these in our democracy; we have planned, have allowed parties to contribute and as well as opened the flood gate for mushroom political parties to sprout. Yet, we are not in any way moving toward fuller democratisation.

We are akin to blaming it on so many factors both founded and un-founded. No doubt our democracy in Africa is being threatened as observed here;

Democracy in Africa has previously been threatened or undermined by various societal, systemic and global factors. Societal factors have included ethnic rivalry, regional disparities, gender inequalities and weak national political culture.

Systemic threats to African democracy have included the pull towards presidential concentration of power, single party monopoly of power, the shadow of the military on the political process with a serious risk of military intervention, and existence of an ideological void at the national level.

Perils to African democracy have also included global threats in form of excessive foreign penetration of economies, and the impact of the arms trade on the balance of power within African countries.

In addition, there has been too much readiness by external powers to consolidate, defend or bail out African tyrants unpopular with their own people. This was so when it was in the interest of those external forces to back up the African tyrants. ( Ali Mazrui )

Nigeria’s democracy today is under threat and it needs the concerted efforts of all Nigerians to steer us away from the impeding crash. It can still be averted, we can still change things. It is never late too to start march towards the much needed democratisation changes. Our democracy can still be managed so that the spirit may not die, the light will not be quenched and the bloods shed in the June 12 aftermaths may not have been shed in vain. How do we make a start now(?) Which areas need s managing in our democracy (?)

Let us resolved today to manage our democracy better for a more democratic Nigeria and Africa.

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