Date Published: 09/24/09

Nigeria and her democratic journey

Ten years ago, Nigeria started a journey through a democratic terrain. A journey that would have led her to the land where poverty, hunger, strife, unemployment, insecurity will be a thing of the past. This journey though, started by the military, has been mainly spearheaded by civilians or at least military-civilians. The first few years of our journey were not without challenges. But as a people determined to keep the military boys in the barrack, we surmounted these challenges and trudged on. In the course of this period, achievements were recorded, e.g. GSM.

Things started changing especially in the second phase of our great journey. We seem to lose our track. The elections were anything but free and fair, and our “civilian” ruler, probably surrounding himself with selfish people became a despot, subverting the provisions of the constitution, taking decisions unilaterally, and hunting down those perceived to be his enemies. He ended up imposing a president on us through the INEC, under Maurice Iwu, in an election adjudge to be the worst to be ever conducted in the history of our forty-nine years of existence as a nation.

This administration came with a promise to make amends to the poorly conceived policies of the previous government. Nigerians waited anxiously, but much to their chagrin, two years after its inception, nothing has happened. All we have heard is the continuous drumming of its Seven Point Agenda. Can an agenda that is not understood be implemented? Some-times I wonder if this government ever assesses itself. If it does, then let it come out and tell Nigerians any of the Seven Point Agenda it has effectively implemented.

Since the inception of this administration, nothing seems to be working in this country. Of course, there is always the make believe that government is taking its time. For how long will government continue to plan? If it takes the government over two years to plan, then when will it start implementing its programmes or policies?

This is therefore a call to this government to wake from its protracted slumber and start embarking on policies that will meet the yearnings of Nigerians. Nigerians must not continue to tolerate under performance. Any government that fails to perform should not be given the privilege of a second term. I pray we retrace our step and return to track. Let our journey also be one that is in accordance with the tenets of ideal democracy where sovereignty rest with the people.  God bless Nigeria.

 Frank O. Ijege,

6B Dabo road, barnawa,

Kaduna. 08032093229.