BY COMRADE KINGSLEY AZUH
WHEN Nigeria gained her independence in 1960, there was jubilation everywhere in the country, and nigerians celebrated the great achievement of self-determination. However, some nigerians were pessimistic on the ability of nigeria to govern herself. Those who rejoiced with great hope and those who doubted the ability of nigerians to govern themselves have all gone to the land beyond. However, events since independence tend to prove the pessimistic group right. Today, the nigerian nation is drifting to anarchy; the role of law has been pushed to the dustbin and our security agents have become a disgrace to the nigerian people and the international community.
Everything seems to be wrong with this country. We have government that have failed in every ramification; it has failed in almost all the functions that a government has to perform to be called a government the worst is its inability to provide security for its citizens. It is no longer news that in nigeria, one needs to provide everything for oneself to be able to survive; you need your own borehole before you can drink water, you need your own generator to get light and you also need the services of vigilante groups to ward off criminals. These are signs of a failed state.
Today, nigerians are suffering in every ramification, the democracy that we cherish does not look like democracy. Democracy that does not guarantee the rule of law is no democracy. Those who talk of democracy must do the needful. Democracy that impoverishes the people and incarcerates the innocent and deny them justice is no democracy. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
The nigerian problem is multidimensional. The security agencies have become nightmares to the nigerian citizens, the police and other sister agencies are now the private agencies of the rich and powerful. The federal government does not obey court orders but they want others to obey. What a deceit? He that seeks equity must come with clean hands.
Nigeria has become a shame to good citizens of the country and the international community. For us to strengthen the democracy that we so cherish and to prevent the looming anarchy, we must play according to civilized democratic norms. Any democracy where the people have no say in the affairs of their country or intimidated by security agents who fear to confront bandits is no democracy. Let every well-meaning nigerian join hands to redeem our country which is becoming a shame to all of us.
