Dangers Ahead

[Shola Sholaz]

"We have met the enemy, and he is us."- Walt Kelly 1971 Politics is threatening the fragile Nigerian democratic process in a manner that is likely to create unprecedented levels of crises.
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Overheating the polity is the popular phrase Nigerian politicians like to use against opponents. In this context, this is an appropriate description of the cumulative effect of the utterances and manouvers of elected leaders and others with responsibility for managing the democratic process.
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At no time in its history has this nation needed more cohesion and consensus around vital matters on politics, governance and security at its leadership levels than now. Rather tragically, at no other time has the nation been more exposed to damaging absence of unity and commitment to national interests as it is today, 53 years since politicians quarrelled and squabbled over dates and duties, but settled around the fundamentals of political independence from the British.
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It is difficult to see how the nation can be freed from the depth of despair and paralysis which its leaders have plunged it. Democracy is many things to many people, but at its barest minimum, it is a social framework for resolving basic human challenges such as conflicts over social goals, leadership and allocation of resources.