Grandiose Parlor

In other countries, politics is a vehicle for effecting change, in Nigeria, it is a means of economic survival. We have politics and politicians, but we do not yet have democracy, and so, every May 29, we can only gape as the politicians describe the bore holes that they have sunk, the street lights that they have provided, the school buildings that they have re-painted, the roads that they have resurfaced - as true evidence that they are democrats! - Reuben Abati

Every 29th day of May, Nigeria celebrates the birth - or rebirth - of democracy in the nation. The government of President Obasanjo declared the day a public holiday in 1999 to celebrate Nigeria’s return to democracy again, after several years of military dictatorship and failed civilian rule.

This May marks the eighth year of celebrating democracy in Nigeria, but I’m not convinced that the Nigerian nation has much to celebrate since we have very little to show for the huge financial cost of running a democratic system.

“Politics is thriving in Nigeria, not democracy” according to Reuben in his article titled “Five Things To Remember On May 29″. And there are ample evidence to support this. In fact, over the past three years this blog - and several others - have been documenting some of the anomalies in the Nigerian democracy - those problems are now becoming more endemic.

My fear is that if this state persists long enough it becomes institutionalized, just as corruption and nepotism have. Here are more excerpts:

How Politics Underdevelops Nigeria: Nigerians want power in order to gain access to the public treasury one way or the other, in order to lay their hands on the national cake and all associated opportunities but they are not willing to serve the people. Greater energy is devoted to politics and politicking, rather than the objectives of democratic rule. This is why our institutions are weak; it is why the PDP continues to win elections. Every man or woman that gets into power at any level is suddenly a big man. And he does everything to remain in power, indeed, self-preservation in power takes all his energies, and with everyone with a title struggling to remain powerful, the public arena, from the ruling political parties to the governments, is full of conflicting egos and little illumination about how to develop the Nigerian state and grow opportunities for the people’ s welfare.

Although there have been some flashes of hope coming from the judiciary and the House of Representatives. The former has reversed some questionable elections, and the latter commenced probing the activities of the previous administration.

However, the horizon remains bleak still since it appears nothing has been achieved: All recontested seats have gone to the ruling party, the major player in Nigeria’s dysfunctional game of democracy; and after several hearings and weeks of investigating the power sector, the probe has yet to reveal who erred and how Nigerians will enjoy more electricity.

If Nigerian brand of democracy is based on weak values; is managed by elected officials playing demigods; and the government lacks clear direction after one year of assuming power - should Nigerians be celebrating, or devoting the time to soul-search and ask some tough questions? The answer is obvious.