Democracy does not belong to politicians — Ezekwesili

Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili has issued a stark warning that Nigeria is dangerously close to becoming a failed state. She attributes this decline to worsening democratic standards, weakened institutions, and a pervasive public distrust in governance.

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Democracy does not belong to politicians. Democracy belongs to the citizens.

Speaking at a Movement for Credible Elections event in Abuja, Ezekwesili highlighted that Nigeria's democratic system has deteriorated significantly since 1999. She pointed to the low voter turnout in the 2023 presidential election, which registered at 23 percent, as evidence of deep-seated distrust in the electoral process and public institutions. This figure, she noted, falls below Africa's democratic average.

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It is quite evident that years later, our democracy has degraded to a churn. In all the indicators that define functional democracies, we absolutely do badly.

Ezekwesili identified institutional failures within bodies like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and security agencies as major contributors to the crisis. She also expressed concern over the increasing use of state power against dissenting voices, labeling it a significant threat ahead of the 2027 elections. The former minister stressed that democracy is a right belonging to the citizens, not politicians, and criticized the political elite for prioritizing personal ambitions over national well-being, particularly in light of ongoing insecurity and abductions.

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One major crisis is the increasing use of state power against dissenting voices.

Furthermore, Ezekwesili warned that the perception of elections being "purchased with money" exacerbates corruption and national fragility. She stated that Nigeria's persistent decline places it among the world's most vulnerable states, with a high risk of becoming a failed state. Representing former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Yinusa Tanko echoed concerns about voter registration flaws potentially undermining future elections, calling for urgent electoral reforms and increased public engagement.

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There is growing anxiety that our elections have entirely been purchased and that nothing else matters in our democratic processes than loads of money and when you remember that none of the politicians have shown evidence of generational wealth before they came to public reckoning, then it becomes clear to me that there is a strong correlation between the level of public corruption that has reduced Nigeria to as close a failed state as can be defined by the global measure that ranks countries in terms of their fragility.