Good Night The Agents Of Participatory Decision Making And Modernization: The Death Of Democracy In Nigeria : A Bitter Experience

Democracy anywhere in the world is not built around the interest of an individual, political party, or privileged class, but upon universal principles of justice, participation, accountability, rule of law, and constitutional supremacy. Unfortunately, in the Nigerian context, many politicians have continued to prioritize personal ambition, ethnic loyalty, political survival, and selfish interests above the true ideals and tenets of democratic governance.

Nigeria’s democratic journey has suffered repeated interruptions due to the failures of political leadership and the inability of successive civilian administrations to uphold the principles of fairness, equity, justice, and responsible governance. These failures created opportunities for military interventions that repeatedly disrupted democratic continuity in the country.

The collapse of the First Republic in 1966 was largely connected to political instability, ethnic rivalry, electoral violence, corruption, abuse of power, and unhealthy political competition among civilian political leaders. Prominent political actors who were central figures in Nigeria’s early democratic experience. 

The crisis in the Western Region, political intolerance, allegations of election manipulation, and the struggle for political dominance weakened the democratic structure and eventually encouraged the military coup of January 1966 carried out by young military officers under the guise of national correction.

Following the military takeover, democratic governance was suspended as Nigeria entered a long era of military dominance, Most of these military administrations had little regard for constitutional supremacy and governed largely through decrees rather than democratic principles. Their interventions, though often justified in the name of national stability, anti corruption, and discipline, slowed democratic development, weakened institutions, and centralized power within the military elite.

The Second Republic also collapsed in 1983 due to corruption, economic hardship, abuse of electoral processes, political greed, weak institutions, and lack of accountability. The controversial 1983 elections further deepened public distrust, while the military again justified its intervention by accusing civilian politicians of destroying national values and governance standards.

One of the darkest moments in Nigeria’s democratic history was the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election widely believed to have been won by Late Moshood Abiola under the military administration of . The annulment destroyed public confidence in governance, deepened political tension, and paved the way for the authoritarian regime. The actions of the military rulers and the political elites of that era greatly hampered Nigeria’s democratic, political, and economic development.

Today, Nigeria’s democracy still faces serious challenges. Marginalization, political imposition, disregard for constitutional supremacy, weakened checks and balances, suppression of opposition voices, abuse of state institutions, and the personalization of power continue to threaten democratic stability. Many political office holders now see governance as an avenue for personal enrichment rather than national service.

The National Assembly, which should serve as the conscience of democracy and the voice of the people, has increasingly become populated by political loyalists, office seekers, and rubber stamp legislators who rarely challenge executive excesses. Many elected representatives have failed to contribute meaningfully to nation building through quality legislation, effective oversight functions, and people oriented representation.

As a Consultant in Public Administration and Community Development, I strongly believe that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and properties. Security and public welfare remain the foremost duties of any responsible government. Unfortunately, many citizens no longer feel safe in their homes, workplaces, markets, and even among neighbors. Fear, uncertainty, kidnapping, banditry, political violence, and economic hardship have destroyed public trust in governance.

Today, many Nigerians sleep with one eye open because insecurity and distrust have become part of everyday life. Citizens can no longer confidently trust the next person beside them in offices, on the streets, or even within their communities. When trust disappears, democratic values gradually collapse because democracy itself survives on public confidence, justice, participation, accountability, and the rule of law.

Nigeria must return to the principles of participatory governance, institutional independence, responsible leadership, constitutional respect, and genuine national unity if democracy must survive.

A democracy without justice, opposition, accountability, equity, and people centered governance is gradually preparing its own burial ground.

Lion, Comr. Fapetu Oluwadamilola V.

Lecturer & Public Analyst.