Nigeria's Democracy: A Legislature and Judiciary Devoid of Glory

Voltaire once famously stated that legislators hold the foremost place in the temple of glory. However, in contemporary Nigeria, the National Assembly appears to be a stark departure from this ideal, characterized by a profound lack of glory and a questionable approach to governance. The author laments that what was once envisioned as a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" has become susceptible to the flaws observed by thinkers like George Bernard Shaw, who noted that democracy can substitute election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.

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Legislators have the first place in the temple of glory; conquerors come behind them

Since 1999, Nigeria has witnessed a decline in the sense of responsibility across its governance structures. The article suggests that corruption has become the norm, rather than the exception, within the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. This trend evokes the cautionary words of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who warned in 1998 that "traditional democracies will end up in the garbage heap." Fujimori's own actions, which involved capturing parliament and weakening the judiciary to establish a dictatorship, serve as a grim precedent.

The narrative draws a parallel between Fujimori's tactics and the actions observed in Nigeria. The article implies that, similar to Fujimori's initial steps to consolidate power, Nigeria's political landscape has seen a deliberate removal of guardrails essential for good governance. This includes actions that appear to compromise the integrity of both the lawmakers and the judiciary, leading to a situation where the nation, while claiming to be democratic, may be eroding the very foundations of that system.

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Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few

The piece references former President Obasanjo's early actions in 1999, suggesting a pattern of capturing key political entities, starting with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This mirrors the strategy of undermining democratic institutions to gain unchecked control, a theme that resonates with the historical examples provided. The author implies that such actions, if left unchecked, could lead to a similar outcome as Fujimori's eventual downfall, despite his initial successes in consolidating power.

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Traditional democracies will end up in the garbage heap