RESPONSE: Managing Democracy in Nigeria

A Citizen Writes in Response to Managing Democracy in Nigeria

In response to your article managing democracy in Nigeria and by implication Africa. Let me critically evaluate the reasons why we appear to have some challenges with respect to achieving democratic plurality in Nigeria.

I should focus my literature on Nigeria and its perceived influence in Subsaharan Africa. One of the major factors we are confronted with in Nigeria and very much unfortunate is continuance of the post independence state influence in our politics. I would have thought that after so many decades of Independence from the UK, we should have moved our politics beyond the rhetorics of ethnic politics. We have not been able to achieve strong sovereign statehood as a result of what i perceive to be continuos internal and external interferences on the notion of UNITY and a recognition of our Black identity first and foremost.

The concept of democracy is an evolving one within and between different historical epochs in our country Nigeria. From the post indepence politics of the first republic to the current political dispensation. I observe the constraints that may very well be put in place by external environment but at least we should be able to free ourselves and choose the sort of internal policies that are coducive within our own specified territory.

The recent antics of some political actors vis a vis June 12, in my view is not helpful to the debates we are trying to generate in the Nigerian political space. If mistakes were made, I would have thought that the decent thing to do is to offer apology to assuage feelings. Let us not revert back to some of the failures of post independence Nigeria which is our inablitiy to engage all of the citizens of Nigeria in the state building process.

We must refrain from the sort of statements likely to cause resentment and political polarisation. We must abandon politics of ethno-nationalism. It is fraught with complications and pit falls.

We must engage in politics of substance and issues.And of course results. What matters most to people regardless of their political persuassion or ethnic disposation are results.

All other things are unwelcome distractions that are better confined in the dustbin or as we say in Yoruba land ‘Ori atan’.

Julius Oladele

Why not Join the Debate?

You must something to say!

Rate this:

1.5

Build An eBay Business Without Selling A Thing!