How far… how well?

The dawn of the Fourth Republic and return of Nigeria to democratic dispensation in 1999 was received with optimism, hope, and high dreams by the citizenry.

The country before then had been under four military dictatorship for sixteen years since the Shehu Shagari civilian administration was aborted shortly after being re-elected for second term in office in 1983 by a bloodless military coup.

Due to the long years of military rule and the resultant bad governance, general chaos and

Bastardisation of all fabrics of the Nigerian society, there were high expectations among the populace when the civilian administration by retired general Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office.

However, the greatest legacy of the administration was the introduction of the General System for Mobile Communication (GSM).

However, political observers in the country still believe that the Obasanjo administration was a failure and did not fulfil the much-desired dividend of democracy.

Afenifere Chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo in his autobiography titled: ‘Telling it as it is’ published recently, disclosed that the Obasanjo administration stagnated the country, stressing that the cost of living increased during his administration.

“It amazes me how people give Obasanjo undue prominence in spite of his character. Obasanjo’s tenure as president was a calamity, if it was in a decent society people like him will not feature in public life again.

“The man who carried on as if he was all in all failed woefully on all counts as president of Nigeria; his eight years tenure between 1999 -2007 was a tragedy; his score card was nothing to write home about.

“What did he do in eight years? Before he came we were buying fuel for $20 per litre and crude oil was $23 per barrel; but in 2007 under his administration we were buying fuel at 75 per litre and crude oil was between $75 per litre,” he said.

The administration of late Musa Yar’Adua/Jonathan tried in reposition the country and made giant strides in the education and transportation sectors of the economy.

Factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Fouad Oki, said Goodluck Jonathan administration failed because he could not control his ministers, adding that just like previous administrations, Jonathan was unaware of the yearnings of Nigerians while in power.

Oki said though democracy has not given Nigerians the much desired dividend, the country has had some progress over the years, while charging Nigerians to vote for credible individuals in the 2019 general election.

“Jonathan failed, and one of the major reason was because he could not control his ministers, but if you look critically at the state of affair in the country now and when we were under the military regimes, personally I think we have made some progress in some areas; although there are still some lapses but you cannot compare that to the military era,” Oki said.

“But obvious Nigerians have not had the much-talked about dividend of democracy. As expected because of bad leadership by successive administrations, as we approach the 2019 elections, I would advise Nigerians should think twice before they vote for any candidate.

“Don’t be deceived by the little change they give you, that mind-set has to change if we are to get it right in electing people that govern us”.

When the present APC Muhammadu Buhari administration assumed office in 2015 after winning a historic election as an opposition party

the administration offered much hope with its attendant promise of change, while promising to give corruption a priority, create jobs and provide welfare programmes for the elderly, there were high expectations for a better days ahead for Nigerians.

However, three years since Buhari assumed office, political observers in the country are of the opinion that the initial hopes and promises on the faces of Nigerians seem to have turned to despair and frustration.

Leader of pan Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti, disclosed that political leaders had taken Nigerians for a ride since 1999, adding that nothing has been achieved since the return of democracy.

“We have not done well since 1999; we lack focus; corruption is on the rise; our leaders should brace up and show example. We should pray and have a change of heart in the country; we need to encourage hard work among the citizenry and government should be responsive to the electorate in the country; right now our leaders are there for their personal pocket and agenda,” he said.

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Honourable, Dipo Oloruniru, urged Nigerians to be patients with the democratic process, adding that Nigerian democracy was still in transition.

“When you say, democracy has not worked in the country so far, I think we need to be careful because we should consider where we are coming from. I think there have been gains but it may be slow. What I think we need to do is to strengthen the electoral process,” he said.

Iniobong Iwok

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