DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY....WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED?

Democracy Day is a public holiday in Nigeria. It is held annually on
29 May. This public holiday commemorates the
restoration of democracy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when the
newly elected Olusegun Obasanjo took office as the President of
Nigeria, ending the multiple decades of military rule that
began in 1966 and had been interrupted
only by a brief period of democracy from
1979 to 1983.

Background

After gaining independence in 1960 from Great Britain, Nigeria fell
prey to civil war and the first of many military coups in
1966. Democracy was briefly restored
from 1979 to 1983, but for most of its
independent history, Nigeria was ruled by
a series of military juntas. The last major military ruler, Gen. Sani
Abacha, died suddenly in 1998. His successor, Gen. Abdulsalami
Abubakar promised a transition to democracy, and accordingly a
new constitution was adopted on May 5th, 1999. Elections were held and
retired Gen.
Olusegun Obasanjo, who had previously
governed Nigeria as a military ruler, was
elected the new president. The end of military rule brought about a
new era of regular elections as well as the
return of civil liberties, free press and an
end to arbitrary arrests and torture,
although human rights violations still occur
regularly. Nigeria also began a long campaign against the bureaucratic and
military corruption that had paralysed its
economy and severely tarnished its
international reputation.

With all these, what have we achieved? This has been the question and
no one seems to probe an answer to this very important question.

Democracy has become a stuff for the few, the few use the majority as
a bait to heighten their career!

During the military rule, we recorded changes in virtually all the
sectors of the economy, education amongst others was held with high
esteem but today, the reverse is the case, teachers can not be paid
their meagre salary, schools can not be properly funded.

Democracy was said to Be the most successful political
idea of all times. Why has it run into
trouble, and what can be done to revive it?

Dear readers, I put it out to you, what do you think can be done to revive it?
Your bro,
In the struggle.

Posted by Chrisray

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