NIGERIAN’S ILLIBERAL DEMOCRACY

A prelude to the discussion herein, is the understanding of liberal democracy for those who don’t understand what liberal and illiberal democracy means. Adopting the definition of Berend (2015), “liberal democracy is understood as a political system marked not only by free and fair elections, but also by the rule of law, the separation of powers and the protection of basic freedoms.” Having given a justifiable definition for the purpose of this discussion, then the understanding of illiberal democracy will be the opposite of Liberal democracy. This brings us to the title of the discussion herein. Taking a deep look at the Nigerian governmental process on democracy, a lot of perturbing questions springs up concerning the federal government political practices as a whole. In buttressing the inherent problems that has made or tagged the democratization process in Nigeria as illiberal and not liberal are actions and process taking by some of the state governing bodies in the country.

Recently, the present governor of Ekiti state, presented a budget, took the position of the speaker and approved it by himself without the speaker of the house addressing the budget, in the guise of speedily action for such budget to be implemented. Indeed! This is not only criminal but a shame on the states’ democratic political process. For those who are interested in viewing the short video clips of this please see the link attached (https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153744552779691). Another incidence and stab on the democracy is the slapping and beating of a Judge, known as Justice John Adeyeye by Ekiti state Governor Ayodele Fayose, for allegedly being rude to him. (http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2014/09/25/fayose-beats-up-ekiti-court-judge/)

Moving from the governor's misdemeanor to the Federal level, former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, has been battling with Money Laundering Charges. According to premiumtimesng.com (2015), “For some reasons, he has been under investigation for the last six months since President Muhammadu Buhari came into power,...“He has been going to the EFCC back and forth and all sort of things are happening. The EFCC has invited the wife, his brothers and maltreated them."… After being granted bail from two different court where he was charged by the Federal Government, State Security Services (SSS), operatives used force to re-arrest him. Again, this undermines Liberal democracy. The short of the video is also attached for your perusal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsRyPGuwRUM).

Taking the few account highlighted here, then we begin to really question and ask if “Liberal Democracy” is really practiced in Nigeria as it is being portrayed for the international observers and community.

Reference

Ivan T. Berend (2015)."Unfinished Europe: Transition from Communism to Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe", Journal of contemporary History. Vol. 50(4), 768-785.DOI: 10.1177/0022009415596845