Nigeria pretending to practise democracy – Donald Duke
Former Governor Donald Duke Says Nigerians Were Better Off Under Military Rule
LAGOS, Nigeria — Donald Duke, the former governor of Cross River State and current presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), stated in a recent interview that Nigerians may have been better off during military rule compared to the 27 years of civilian governance that followed.
Duke argued that the prolonged civilian administration has led to significant societal costs without notable improvements in citizens’ lives. “The people were better off under the military. At least governance was not that expensive,” he remarked.
He asserted that the effectiveness of government should be evaluated based on the welfare of its citizens and the so-called “democracy dividends” since Nigeria transitioned back to civilian rule in 1999. “If we focus on the well-being of the people, what we term democracy dividends, how much has been delivered?” he asked.
Duke highlighted ongoing issues such as educational deficiencies, healthcare system failures, and infrastructural deterioration that have persisted since the return to democracy. “We’re still facing the same problems we had 27 years ago. It’s getting worse,” he emphasized.
He asserted that Nigeria had yet to address its fundamental challenges, such as electrification and unemployment, which predate the return to democratic governance. “There’s no structured approach towards dealing with these issues,” he said, expressing frustration over the lack of solutions.
Duke criticized the current political landscape, claiming that Nigeria’s governance crisis is compounded by a weak opposition and a political system where electoral outcomes often do not reflect voters’ preferences. “The opposition is terribly weakened and self-centered. Democracy is also in danger,” he stated, suggesting that this disenchantment contributes to low voter turnout.
He expressed concern that disputed election results diminish accountability, allowing political leaders to neglect the needs of the populace. “Because your vote doesn’t matter, there’s a tendency to take people for a ride and disregard what is required by the people,” he added.
During the interview, Duke depicted Nigeria’s democratic practices as a façade, arguing that neither the legislature nor the judiciary are effectively holding the executive branch accountable. “We don’t have a democracy. We are pretending to have democracy,” he said. He pointed to the quick approval of the national anthem by the National Assembly as evidence of lawmakers failing to rigorously question executive actions.
Duke also suggested that the elite class has neglected its role in governance, leaving political office occupations to individuals who do not prioritize public service. “It’s a failure of the elite more than anything else. We’re enlightened people, but we abdicated our leadership to those whom we should be leading,” he stated.
Addressing the growing divide between the rich and the poor in Nigeria, Duke warned that this chasm threatens social stability. He recalled a saying from his time on the National Economic Intelligence Committee, suggesting unrest could occur when the wealthy no longer feel secure due to the plight of the impoverished.
Despite Nigeria’s vast human and material resources, Duke lamented the nation’s stagnation. “Nigeria is exceedingly blessed. It’s sad. It’s painful that we are where we are,” he concluded.
