As the country prepare to mark another Democracy Day tomorrow, Thursday, June 12, 2025, ordinary Nigerians have bared their minds on the journey so far.
Speaking with DAILY POST on Wednesday, Chukwuemeka Mosindi, an Ibadan-based journalist, opined that the gains of democracy has not trickled down to the masses.
Mosindi, who said the dividends of democracy were lacking in the country, also added that it is the government that can make such available to the citizens.
He also hinted that many hopes have been dashed as the struggle to again democracy since 1993 has been relegated.
He said, “Things are really hard in the country now. It is only the government that can make available the dividends of democracy. Nigerians are hungry.
“Nigerians’ expectations that things would have fared better from 1993 till now have been dashed. They are just enriching and connecting themselves. They are not doing the wishes of the citizenry.”;
He explained that the problem will continue to plague the country as long as the electoral power has been denied the electorates and political parties force candidates on the people.
“As long as the people have no power to decide whom they want during those periodic elections, this problem will continue. The current situation is that the electorates are arm twisted to vote for the candidate with money to spend.
“Candidates are forced on the electorate and they don’t really have a choice.”;
On his part, a civil servant, Odeyemi Akolade said Nigeria’s democracy has only succeeded in building strong individuals rather strong institutions.
He lamented that votes in Nigeria do not count, a major reason for voter apathy and a low level of awareness among voters.
“We are just building strong individuals instead of institutions. Individuals would go, so what now remains of institutions?
“If only our votes can count. I know there are many Nigerians who mean well for this country but votes don’t count and our politics have been monetised that politicians with real intentions are swallowed up by the bad system and most of them are not in the main stream political parties.”;
Another major constraints of Nigeria’s democracy he adduced is the nature of the political environment which gives room for the emergence of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the two dominant parties.
“The APC and PDP are the most popular political parties and they don’t bring forward credible and popular politicians.”;
