On May 29, 1999, the military regime led by Abdulsalami Abubakar formally transferred power to a democratically elected government, heralding a new era of democratic dispensation in Nigeria. Despite the challenges and struggles, the Nigerian people, with their remarkable resilience and unwavering hope, embraced this transition with a spirit that is truly commendable.
The 25-year democratic journey in Nigeria, marked by triumphs and tribulations, is a testament to the Nigerian people’s unwavering resilience, strength, and determination. This journey, which began after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, is a crucial backdrop to the current political landscape, underscoring the nation’s continuous struggle for democracy and a better future.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar were elected President and Vice President, respectively, to lead Nigeria after Obasanjo’s release from prison. This development ignited a spark of optimism and raised expectations among the Nigerian populace for a more prosperous and promising future. The new administration under Obasanjo’s leadership wasted no time initiating a series of reforms, especially economic reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment and improving the Nigerian business environment. Internationally, the administration successfully negotiated debt relief for the nation from the Paris Club, a significant achievement that earned praise from citizens who believed the government was steering the country toward development and progress.
It was much easier than expected for Obasanjo to secure a second term in office. Nigerians felt the impact of implementing the reforms initiated by Obasanjo during his first term for the good of the people and the nation. In 2007, after serving out his second term, Obasanjo handed over power to Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua following the latter’s emergence in a “do-or-die election”. after wasting 16 billion Naira to produce darkness and failing to win his third-term ambition’s support.
President Yar’Adua would later openly acknowledge that the election that brought him to power was riddled with irregularities and flaws. He made a public commitment to initiate significant electoral reforms after publicly declaring his assets and his family’s. Yar’Adua’s administration had a seven-point agenda which it aimed to implement methodically, but his ill health prevented him from accomplishing much before he died.
Following Yar’Adua’s ill health, the “Doctrine of Necessity”, a legal principle allowing actions necessary to preserve the state even if they are not strictly legal, was invoked to address the power vacuum created by his absence. Thus, the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan became Acting President and, following Yar’Adua’s death, was sworn in as President to complete the tenure of his boss, who would have genuinely fought corruption and transformed Nigeria for the betterment of all its people.
President Jonathan contested the 2011 presidential election with Namadi Sambo as his running mate. During his campaign, Jonathan shared his life story of overcoming challenges, including attending school without shoes, and pledged to bring transformation and development to Nigeria and its suffering people. Nigerians accepted his emotional plea and gave him their mandate. However, it was alleged that Jonathan was transforming family members, allies, party chieftains, and loyalists at the expense of the Nigerian people. Reports of widespread corruption, worsening insecurity and economic hardship further eroded public trust in his leadership.
Disillusioned by the lack of progress and the perceived mismanagement of the country, Nigerians rejected Jonathan’s bid for re-election in 2015, signalling a significant shift in public sentiment and a call for change. Many Nigerians felt that a new government was necessary as the 16-year rule of the PDP had caused significant harm to Nigeria. As a result, a new party called the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged, chanting the change mantra. Former military leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), became the new face of change.
Swayed by APC’s sloganeering, Nigerians embraced the ‘change’ mantra, a powerful political slogan representing a departure from the established norms and a yearning for a fresh trajectory. In the election of February 2015, the APC, which had won the trust of the Nigerian populace, defeated the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clinch the presidency. This historic event marked the first time in Nigeria’s history that an opposition party emerged victorious over a sitting President. The nation erupted with exuberance, infused with a renewed sense of hope, optimism, and lofty aspirations for the future. The air was charged with palpable expectations as Nigeria embarked on this new chapter in its political journey.
The APC’s impact on Nigeria fell short of expectations. Throughout President Buhari’s 8-year tenure, Nigerians witnessed significant life declines. Despite the promises made by the APC-led administration, spearheaded by President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to tackle corruption, restore security, and revive the economy, they fell short. This has understandably led to a deep sense of disappointment and frustration among Nigerians, reflecting the country’s current state of affairs.
Corruption worsened during Buhari’s administration, and insecurity became commercialized. Even the former President’s home state of Katsina has been heavily affected. The neighbouring state of Zamfara has been plagued by banditry, and Kaduna State has seen an increase in kidnapping cases. The Buhari regime promised to revamp the economy and lift 100 million Nigerians from poverty. However, the opposite has happened, with more than 133 million Nigerians reported to have fallen into multidimensional poverty. As a result, Nigeria has officially become the world’s headquarters for poverty.
In 2023, as the regime in Nigeria was coming to an end, there was a sense of relief among many Nigerians as they anticipated the departure of the Buhari government. President Buhari, who had run for office multiple times before winning the presidency in 2015, seemed eager to transfer power to the next elected leader. Leading up to the 2023 presidential election, there was a widespread belief among many Nigerians that regardless of who won—whether it was Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, or Peter Obi of the LP—none of them would lead a government worse than the Buhari regime.
Following President Tinubu’s electoral success in 2023, his supporters expressed unwavering confidence in his ability to leverage his talent-hunting acumen, drive developmental initiatives, and invoke the transformative spirit of Lagos on a national scale. It is anticipated that as one of the key members of the democratic struggle during the military regime, his administration will bring change and facilitate the growth and development Nigeria seeks, instilling a renewed sense of hope and optimism in the nation.
The APC-led government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”, comprising a series of policies and initiatives aimed at revitalizing the economy, enhancing security, and improving the standard of living, has sparked concerns regarding its conception and implementation. Some have raised doubts about its sincerity. As of the current year, there is a growing sense of unease among Nigerians, marked by increased hardship, suffering, and confusion. This mounting discontent has manifested in widespread hunger protests nationwide, with citizens boldly expressing their frustration by chanting “We are hungry”, even in the face of the President in his hometown of Lagos. This wave of unrest underscores a marked deterioration in living conditions, resulting in an alarming surge in the number of Nigerians falling below the poverty line.
Nigerians have been disillusioned by the promise of Renewed Hope under Tinubu’s leadership. This message of hope has been perceived as deceptive, especially given that the current conditions in the country are worse than during Buhari’s tenure. The so-called renewed hope has led many Nigerians to seek opportunities and hope abroad while businesses are shutting down and investors are leaving in droves. A government that claimed it would instill hope should not witness its citizens leaving en masse and searching for better prospects in foreign lands.
As Nigeria marks 25 years of uninterrupted democracy and one year under the leadership of the “Emilokan” Renewed Hope government, the country is facing significant challenges. There is a growing exodus of people seeking better living conditions elsewhere due to the unbearable situation in Nigeria. Despite his claims of being able to drive development, the former NADECO member and ex-Lagos State Governor has struggled to address the widespread suffering and hunger in the nation. Insecurity is increasing, corruption has taken new forms, and confidence in the Tinubu administration is declining.
In his Democracy Day address on June 12, the President likened his experience to that of a democracy beneficiary in his current role. However, it’s important to note that he emerged from a flawed democratic process, which does not represent what Nigeria aspired to. In a truly functional democratic system, citizens would freely choose their leaders through fair elections rather than legal processes clouded by suspicions of compromise. In such a democracy, the government would refrain from threatening its citizens with arrest, harassment, and intimidation for expressing dissent against misguided policies. Instead, it would prioritize the well-being of the people and earnestly address their concerns.
After removing fuel subsidies on May 29, 2023, Nigeria has faced challenges attributed to the government’s budgetary conduct. This includes lavish spending on luxury SUVs for legislators, 21 billion naira for the Vice President’s residential properties, and 1.5 billion naira for an unauthorized First Lady’s office, an estimated 17 trillion naira for the ‘Coastal Road to Nowhere’, and 90 billion naira to facilitate trips of Muslim pilgrims to Mecca, alongside excessive financial outlay for foreign travel under the pretext of attracting investors and huge sums being proposed for the presidential jet for Tinubu and his Vice. Another point of contention is the government’s failure to expeditiously negotiate a new minimum wage, despite the expiration of the previous one two months ago, which has compounded the financial predicament Nigerian workers face and deliberately aided poverty wages, which helps build corruption in public service.
The dissatisfaction with the government’s policies arises against 25 years of unbroken democracy, marred by broken promises and widespread hardship among the Nigerian populace. The leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpapio, ruling party chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Gaduje, and current INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu despite the irregularities in the 2023 presidential election, undermines the possibility of a Renewed Hope and, instead, fosters an atmosphere of despair and hopelessness. Furthermore, the condition of the judiciary, traditionally seen as the beacon of hope for the ordinary citizen, today contributes to the lack of hope for the Nigerian people.
Nigeria cannot continue on its current path and expect to experience renewed hope or optimism. Nigerians need to come together in their pain and suffering, as they cannot rely on allegedly compromised NLC and TUC leaders to guide them in the struggle for the demand of a functional democracy that is responsive, transparent, progressive, prosperous, and serves the interests of the majority rather than the few elites and the ruling class. Until this happens, the fall of our democratic heroes, spearheaded by Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and others, will be seen to be in vain, and the yearning and hope for a better Nigeria will remain a mirage.
*Ogbeide, a social activist, can be reached on [email protected].