Opinion poll on 14 years of democracy in Nigeria.

[FMINigeria]

By Godwin Igharo & Enakhinion Besiru

When the military handed over the baton of leadership to civilians in May 1999, there were fears and cynicism in many quarters.  Only a few had the hope that democracy would last long.

But a decade and four years after, Nigeria is still under a democratic rule in spite of all odds and challenges.  Now, the question is, "How have we fared over these years?  The following are the reactions of some citizens:

Christian Ukpere Iweka, former Councilor, Igbanke West Ward, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, remarks that government at all levels have made great impact on the lives of Nigerians in these past fourteen years of democracy." Because of democracy, citizens have been able to exercise their rights".  He said, that the people were given the opportunity to choose representatives of their choice without imposition as it was during the military.  He is also of the opinion that the situation of things in the country has changed for the better.  However, the ex-councillor says that a lot still need to be done in the health, energy and economy sectors.  "The government should also tackle inequality, corruption and injustice."   He advises that "what applies to the rich should also apply to the poor.  The gap between the two classes of citizens is too wide presently," he averred.

Though Honourable Festus Edobor, the former supervisory councillor who represented Igbanke West ward in the Orhiomwon Local Council believed that democracy in the last fourteen years has brought a lot of positive changes in the country, he laments that corruption and insecurity have increased more than it had been during the military regime.  He said that not much has been achieved, too, in the energy sector. "But, generally speaking, things are better."

Mr. Imoudu Justin is a public affairs commentator and a retired civil servant.  In his response, he rained praises on President Goodluck Jonathan: "We are progressing whatever anybody says"; he stressed.  "We are progressing in all fronts – economic, social, name it.   Thank God that we have a President that is educated, painstaking, and diligent; "I am particularly comfortable with President Goodluck Jonathan.  If it has been another person who is not as educated and level headed as he is, we would have been in terrible mess by now".

Mr. Imondu also opined that President Goodluck Jonathan is tackling corruption head-on and that he has brought improvement in the Education Sector.  He saw the eight years regime of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo as the foundation years.

Mr. Imoudu advised Nigerians who are clamouring for a revolution in Nigeria to drop the idea.  He disclosed that revolutions are capable of destroying the economy of a nation.  He made reference to an ex-Canadian government official who advised Nigerians to watch Algeria, Egypt and other countries "where they have had this so-called revolution.  They have further destroyed the Economy which they said was bad and have gone to the bottom"; he added.

The "Standard of living is higher now in Nigeria, and business is also far better than during the military," asserted Mr Godwin Utebor, a business man who deals in cosmetics and other sundry products.  He argued that democracy has brought development to the doorsteps of Nigerians. "Everywhere has been opened up in terms of roads and other public utilities."  This, he said, has improved business for him since he makes more money.

Mr. Utebor believed that the level of corruption and stealing in government circles was higher during the military regime than now. He was of the opinion that people talk more of corruption and stealing of public fund now because there is freedom of speech. "But during the military, nobody dared to criticize or accuse the leaders of any wrong doing. That is why we think that the politicians are worse than the military people".

He said that the citizens are more united during democracy than under the military regime. "People from different background meet and mix at political meetings of the various political parties."

He suggested that the military should be mobilized to be in charge of security in order to tackle insecurity in the country.  "Agreeing that there is injustice in the land," he said, "the poor needs to be more protected and empowered financially."

"Before you say anything, people will be shouting about human rights and freedom of speech.  Do these bring food to our tables?

That was the question asked by Mr. Osayande Odia, a teacher resident in Abudu, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.

Democracy, he said, should not just be about rights alone. He decried the injustice, hunger and unemployment prevalent in the country.   According to him, democracy can only be applauded when properly practiced and not otherwise. "Concepts like democracy were conceived by the white people to better the lives of their citizens.  But once it is imported by our people it becomes bastardized, distorted and abused," Odia lamented.  He explained that what we practice in Nigeria is not democracy, but fraud. "We rejoiced that power has been taken from the military but majority of our so-called political leaders are ex-soldiers," he said.

He explained that such personalities were bound to bring the military mentality into politics.   "None of them cares about the people's welfare; all they are after is to amass wealth".  He regretted that since independence, things have not been as bad as it is presently.  "Violence, killings, corruption, kidnapping, embezzlement and insecurity have been our bane"; he insisted.  He warned that except God intervenes, Nigeria is likely to break up.

"If not for the current insecurity in the country, democracy has been so good for Nigeria, so far."  That is the contention of Mrs. Janeth Ibuzugbe, a nurse who resides in Ogan, Orhionmwon Government Area, Edo State.

She asserted that democracy has made it possible for the Nigerian citizens to contest for the political positions of their desire. "It has also made it possible to elect anybody they like to be their leader", she added.

Dr. Magnus Idehen, a resident of Oredo, disclosed that Nigeria has made substantial progress in the 14 years of democracy.  "Let's look at where we are coming from and where we are now.  To be sincere, there are remarkable improvements.  No fuel scarcity, we have more universities, more radio stations, as well as TV stations.  We now have GSM. A military Minister for Telecommunication once told Nigerians that telephones were not meant for the poor people.  Today, under democracy, both the poor and the rich are enjoying telephones (GSM)."

In his contribution, Mr. John Onaghise, a retired teacher, simply said, "Give democracy a chance".  He disclosed that the 14 year old democracy has witnessed improvement in infrastructure in the country.  He mentioned the renovation of some airports, rehabilitation of some federal roads and improvement in the rail sector as some of the dividends of our democratic governments.

In the area of electoral reforms, he scored the Federal Government high, citing the improvement in the last gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States as good examples.

Mrs. Ibuzugbe cautioned that we should not always compare our governments to that of the advanced nations because these countries started long before us.  She elaborated that their countries, too, had passed through difficult times as we are doing now. She said that what we need now is patience. "Let us pray for our country and our leaders to live righteously; she advised.

According to her, Nigerians should tread softly in order not to give the military any excuse to take over government from the civilians whom we voted into power.

Godwin Igharo & Enakhinion Besiru sent this piece from the Federal Information Resource centre, Benin, Edo State.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria