“The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy,” wrote Montesquieu. Abraham Lincoln famously defined democracy as the “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” These profound insights highlight the fragile balance required to sustain a functional state where power is derived from the consent of the governed. Today, let’s reflect on the strange Nigerian democratic experience and the systemic fractures that have turned a participatory ideal into a spectator sport for the masses.
Do you know that the Nigerian manifestation of democracy often feels like a sophisticated charade where the essence of popular sovereignty is sacrificed at the altar of executive absolutism? The queer Nigerian experience has made it difficult to affirm that democracy, as defined by Abraham Lincoln, is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Or is the Nigerian system of government not democracy? In this landscape, those who occupy the seats of power appear to wield near-absolute control over the nation’s affairs and finances, treating the public treasury as a private inheritance rather than a collective trust. The citizenry, who should be the primary stakeholders of the commonwealth, find themselves relegated to the fringes, watching from a distance as their destinies are decided by a political class that seem to operate with minimal or no accountability. This disconnect is exacerbated by a flawed sense of separation of powers, where the boundaries between the executive and the legislature have become dangerously blurred. Instead of acting as a robust check on executive excesses, the legislative arm often functions as a mere extension of the presidency or the governor’s office, populated by individuals who act more like praise-singers than representatives of the people. When the legislature does the bidding of the executive without question, the constitutional framework of checks and balances collapses, leaving the door wide open for godfatherism and the concentration of power in the hands of a few “strongmen” who dictate the pace of state or national development based on personal whims rather than public interest.
So, enhance your capacity to demand transparent governance by recognizing that a democracy without a functional, independent legislature is merely an autocracy in disguise. Let’s look beyond the periodic ritual of voting and recognize the need to interrogate the structural flaws that allow the legislative arm to be outrightly controlled by external interests or executive pressure. Know that the rationale for a legislature is rooted in the need for deliberation and oversight; however, when the lawmakers become sycophants, they betray their constitutional mandate and the people they represent. It is time to recognize that the culture of godfatherism that stifles independent thought and ensures that only those loyal to the “throne” find their way into the hallowed chambers of power is detrimental to everyone. By fostering a more informed and vocal civil society, we can begin to pressure our representatives to prioritize the needs of the constituency over the desires of the executive branch. This requires a shift from being mere spectators to becoming active participants who hold every arm of government to a high standard of performance and integrity. The law makers must reject a system where the legislative process is a rubber-stamp exercise, ensuring instead that our laws are crafted with the welfare of the ordinary Nigerian as the ultimate goal, thereby reclaiming the true spirit of a government that is truly for the people.
As you step out each day, remember that the survival of true democracy rests not on the benevolence of the (s)elected but on the vigilance of the led. We all carry the responsibility of holding a mirror to power and insisting on a system where the separation of powers is a living reality rather than a dormant theory and where our government is not only of the people but also by the people and for the people. Only through our collective intentionality can we transform this flawed structure into a government that genuinely serves the interests of all Nigerians.
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Esang Esitikot is a professor of occupational health and safety, a COREN-registered chemical engineer, public affairs analyst, UN Ambassador for Peace, certified management consultant, World Safety Organization Ambassador, recognized Environmental Ambassador, marriage counsellor, youth mentor, reviewer for international research journals and volunteer lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He is a manager in the oil and gas industry and was recognized by Highstone Global University, USA as the occupational health and safety personality of 2024. He can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only) or email (esitikot@gmail.com).
