Successes And Challenges On Nigeria’s Path Of Democracy Since Independence

The primary objective of any elected government across the globe is to ensure that citizens enjoy the dividends of democracy as much as possible.

This is necessary, because the end assessment of such government will be based on how well it delivers these dividends for the overall welfare of the populace and the development of the country.

Democratic dividends are those tangible and intangible benefits that a nation’s citizens gain from implementing and upholding a democratic system of governance.

In some cases, they are seen as the positive results associated with democratic principles, institutions, and practices. These include political freedom and participation, rule of law and justice, economic growth and development, human rights protection, peace and stability, accountability and transparency, social inclusion and social infrastructure development are all considered to be key dividends of democracy in any nation.Nigeria has, indeed, come a long way in its democratic journey.

Gaining independence from British colonial rule 64 years ago was a watershed in the nation’s political history as the new status gave the country the freedom to determine and chart the course of its destined greatness among the comity of nations.

With a sense of pride and commitment, the then Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, was unequivocal in announcing the readiness of Nigeria to self-govern and develop the country. However, the democratic governance was cut short by the military few years later, truncating the delivery of the much-desired dividends of democracy to a large extent. Between 1966 and 1979, Nigeria was under military rule.

There was another period of democracy under President Shehu Shagari in 1979. The administration ensured democratic freedom and built infrastructure across the country. However, the military struck again on 31 December, 1983, ending another chapter in the country’s democratic history that lasted up till May 29, 1999. In 1999, Nigeria returned to democracy. Since then, successive governments have worked to deliver the dividends of democracy to the nation.

The administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo took deliberate steps to fight corruption. It set up anti-corruption bodies through which it increased accountability and transparency in governance. These anti-graft bodies, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have put eagle-eye scrutiny on public official since their establishment in 2000 and 2003.

In the past twenty five years, the political space has been liberalized, ensuring political freedom and civil rights protection. Nigerians have participated in regular elections, with citizens exercising their right to vote and choose their leaders at local, state, and national levels.

Nigeria witnessed a remarkable federal government transition from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, under President Goodluck Jonathan to opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015. This feat, no doubt, marked a major dividend of democracy bequeathed to the nation, especially with the then president Jonathan putting call through to his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, conceding defeat, even before the final declaration of winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says in the 2024 Democracy Day address to the nation on June 12 that, Nigeria has established the tradition of holding transparent, open and fair elections which gives credence to the country’s democratic bearing.

It is pertinent to state, however, that while Nigeria has seen many of these democratic governance, the nation still struggles with challenges like corruption, political violence, ethnic and religious divisions, economic inequality, and insecurity. And for the citizens to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy, Nigerian leaders at all levels must become transformational, honest and responsive in the discharge of the duties as representatives of the people for sustainable democracy in the country.