The day Nigeria would get out of this situation is the day we would be able to focus on the reality and the reality is simple; it is only the day when a Nigerian places the country first before self that is when Nigeria would get out of the quagmire that it is currently in. Among the multiplicity of the challenges are;
ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE: one of the cardinal tenets of participatory democracy is orderly change of government through credible, free and periodic elections. Since the inception of the fourth Republic in Nigeria, change of government has been orderly while elections have been periodic. Between 1999 and 2011 three different civilian regimes have emerged and there have been three successive transitions from one civilian regime to nanother. Elections in the fourth Republic have been characterized by monumental irregularities and malpractice which magnitude increases with every election. Institutions of the state and even the electoral body collude to manipulate the electoral process in favor of certain candidates.
POVERTY IS ANOTHER FACTOR THAT CONSTITUTES GRAVE CHALLENGE TO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA:
Poverty, like an elephant is more easily recognized than defined. Giving poverty a universal operational definition has, indeed been a very difficult task for analysts. Traditionally, it refers to a situation in which an individual does not have the minimum income required to maintain a generally acceptable level of consumption. This is otherwise called absolute poverty. But over time, the need to consider as well, socio-psychological factors became necessary. While democracy in essence, is a process where citizens are empowered to exercise supreme authority in a polity, this implies that there is popular participation in all facets of national life, so that policies are not just made, but necessarily to satisfy the citizens, uplift their dignity, guarantee their fundamental human rights, and ensure a united, independent and progressive society.
ETHNIC CLEAVAGES AND SECURITY: inter and intra ethnic rivalries, eligiuos crisis and insecurity also constitute potent challenges to democratic governance in Nigeria.
WEAK DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTION: The weakness of the democratic institutions in Nigeria is another challenge to democratic governance. By democratic institutions, we refer to the Executive, judiciary, the legislature and electoral agencies such as as the INEC.
INSTITUTIONALIZED CORRUPTION: The political and institutionalized corruption constitutes one of the greatest challenges and threats to democratic governance in Nigeria since the first Republic has long been established as evident.
Today, lack of good leadership and wide spread corruption are the main causes of insecurity, political thuggery, indiscipline among our youth, poverty and unemployment. Thus, leaders must be just and transparent; they must justify the confidence reposed in them by the people who elected them. In this way, they will earn the confidence and respect of their people.
Amb Yasir Sani Tahir
yasirsanitahir@yahoo.com