A blessing or a curse?

Topics like this often bring serious issues between friends, husbands and wives, religious leaders, or even colleagues at work who can suddenly turn against each other when their political support differs. I remember during late Buhari’s campaign, almost every household was against President Jonathan, and those who supported Buhari later blamed themselves when things didn’t turn out as promised during the campaign. The change for the better we all hoped for turned sour when the opposite became our reality.

For this reason, I am always careful when discussing topics like this in open places. If you’re not careful, you can easily become a laughing stock or even an enemy to the winning party. However, since this is a prompt from Hivelearners, it must be answered. Most countries use a democratic system to lead their people, but how about us? Is it the same?

Src

Firstly, what is democracy? From my secondary school days, I learned it is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But looking at Nigeria today, I don’t think it is as it was defined. If I were to rephrase it, I would say it is government of the leaders, by the corrupt leaders, and for their selfish interests. They are too greedy, and it's affecting the aims and objectives of their cause.

Since I grew up understanding politics in my country, it has always been the same old stories of E go better. The return of democracy was supposed to bring peace, harmony, justice, fairness, hope, and development. Sadly, the reverse is the case. Even after voting, you have no right to challenge or hold anyone accountable if things go wrong. You dare not speak!

Has it been of much help to the well-being of your people? What I can say is a NO. Under democracy, we have been troubled in many ways: corruption, the root of bad governance, electoral malpractice, bad governance, poor institutions, tribal palava, food inflation, economic hardship, poor education, zero healthcare, and terrible road networks. Yet our leaders are busy investing abroad, making fake promises before elections, and ignoring the citizens afterward. So pathetic!

The only areas I know democracy has helped its citizens are👇

Regular elections have reduced the usual usurping or seizing of power through coups.

Opening doors for global recognition in areas like trade and cooperation.

Giving NGOs, media, and activists a voice for human rights and social change, unlike before.

Freedom of expression, where everyone has the right to choose, support, and vote for whoever they want into power.

Would another system be better?

Maybe yes. If democracy is failing us, then perhaps we need to go back to military rule. Democracy should be exactly what it was meant to be, government of the people, by the people, and for the people, not a government drowning in corruption and poor leadership. We need a system that will put a stop to corruption totally, a system that will ban our leaders from receiving treatment abroad, a system that will mandate them to enrol their children in government schools so that they can also feel the pain of sitting on the floor to receive lectures. We need a system that will replace the use of generators and solar power so that our electricity can be properly fixed and constant.

A system that will place government workers, including the president, governors, and all other political leaders, on the same salary scale and gratuity. How can somebody work serve the government for 35years and receive small change as gratuity while someone who has done nothing receives entitlement (huge amount of money) for the rest of his/her life? So bad!

This is my entry to the #hivelearners writing prompt on the topic: Democracy

The image is sourced.

  Thank you for stopping by🥰