It’s May 29, the day of transition of democratic power from the military to the civilian, and the longest so far in the history of Nigeria. Nigeria changed power from the military to civilian on May 29, 1999 when the militay government of General Abdulsalam Abubakar (Rtd) handed over to a democratically elected government led by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a past military Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So far it has been a record of smooth transition from one civilian administration to the other since then.
Obasanjo ran his full two terms and handed over to President Umaru Yar’Ardua, a former governor of Katsina State, but his government did not stay long as he succumbed to the cold hand of death on May 5, 2010 which naturally made his then Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to take over as the President. President Jonathan spent a full term added to that of his principal after which he fell in an election to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and President Buhari is on his second term en route 2023.
It is very instructive to note that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has shifted the nation’s Democracy Day from May 29, to June 12, the day Nigeria believed to have had a popular free and fair election that voted in Chief M.K.O. Abiola in an annulled result. But May 29, is not a date that can be swept under the carpet, and so PTLNEWS went to town to catch the pulse of Nigerians especially men and women of God. Many of them spoke eloquently about their various observations and expectations from civilian administration of 21 years.
However it was a mixed bag of responses. While some believed Nigeria had reasons to celebrate some others believed it calls for no celebration. Whatever might be their reasons the fact that Nigeria still remained one despite various threatening winds and occurrences internally and externally, and that respondents were still alive to celebrate was part of the celebration.
This was succinctly put by Evang. Phillp Olayiwola aka Pholat, the Governor of Gospel musicians Association of Nigeria, that “for the fact that one was alive was enough to thank God as only the living can praise and thank God.” He said explained, “In the 21 years of Nigeria’s democracy we have cause to celebrate because a Yoruba proverb says, it is only those who can think deeply can know how to give thanks, and the Bible says we should give thanks as we are alive and the dead cannot praise God. So because of that we can join the living to praise God.
“We have to give glory to God and celebrate because it has pleased God to spare our lives, the dead cannot praise the God, and for the fact that we are alive means there is hope for us in Nigeria,” he cheerfully expressed.
This same sentiment was equally shared by Rev. Gideon Oyedepo of C&S Bible Ministries, Lagos. He expressed that despite the challenges of the democratic experience, Nigeria earned better respect among the comity of nations.
He pointed out that even there have been skirmishes and insecurity the nation has experienced some measures of political and economic stability unlike when there were military coups and take overs. In summary Rev. Oyedepo agreed that “democracy has been beneficial to us as a people.”
And to Bishop Godson Abiodun of JOGAMINT Foundation Network, also in Lagos the current democratic experience has conferred on Nigerians the opportunity to exercise their fundamental human rights, and privilege of democratic values, and for this reasons Nigerians could also stand tall among the community of civilized nations of the world.
In spite of the afore-mentioned advantages and benefits of the new found democracy, on the other side of the argument were Professor Femi Adedeji, a university don and the minister in charge of The Truth of The Gospel Ministries, Ile Ife, and Rev. Olumide Adeleke of Jesus is Omnipresent Assembly, Sango, Ogun State, Nigeria, saw things differently. According to them, the 21 years of the new democracy has not given Nigerians a lasting joy and happiness. “To my own mind I would say the 21 years of democracy in Nigeria has not given Nigerians cause for celebration.
“This is simply because the foundation on which the democracy was built were faulty, the essence of the democracy is not realised and the dividends do not reach most of the masses.”
He went further, “Again consider the fact that apart from Goodluck Jonathan and Yar’Adua the elected presidents who spend more of the terms are military generals that wear civilian attires, and can we say they are democratic in their style of leadership?
Professor Adedeji saw more of negative actions of the current leadership than the positive things it was supposed to attract to Nigerians. “The negative side include economic hardship imposed by selfish politicians, unemployment, high rate in crime, epileptic power supply unabated systemic corruption, stigmatized image at the global level, poor educational system especially at the public institutions, heightened insecurity etc.
“In addition, the executive has always been known to be power drunk, the legislature is money squandering, while the judiciary is almost dead.
In the views of Rev. Olumide Adeleke, “What we were told in school then about Democracy was that it was the government of the people, by the people and for the people. But in this country, is it so? Do the people have any say in the governance of this country since the inception of our democratic system? My honest answer is NO.
“Our own style of democracy has enriched few. The political class and has impoverished the masses. The politicians and their allies have gained more grounds, fame, power and wealth, while the masses are losing their voices by the day, due to the failures of various government policies through out the country.”
He further explained that “Even when policies are introduced in good faith but due to lack of strong political will or political sentiments, it fails and even worsens the existing system.”
They spoke more on their various expectations from successive leaders, and the inherent hope and despair in the future of democracy in Nigeria. They also spoke about their expectations from the current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, as they also lent their voices to agitation for restructuring and true federalism.
They also took the advantage to peep into what they expect after the present term of the incumbent president as they wrap up with their various prayer requests for Nigeria.
For the rest of the week, PTLNEWS Online shall bring to you their various submissions. Keep the date with us and enjoy this bumper package as we join the various governments in the state and the Federal Republic of Nigeria to celebrate 21 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria, the giant of Africa.
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