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…Hashim Condemns Attack On Protesters On Democracy Day
…Let’s Work Together For Democracy, Sen. Ikpea Urges Nigerians
ABUJA / LAGOS / BENIN – On May 29, 1999, Nigerians celebrated the end of military rule and the beginning of what many hoped would be a new democratic era.
Twenty-seven years later, democracy remains Nigeria’s longest uninterrupted system of government since independence in 1960. The Fourth Republic has now outlived the First and Second Republics combined, becoming the most enduring civilian experiment in the country’s political history.
Yet, as Nigeria marks 27 years of democratic governance, the question remains: what exactly has democracy delivered?
The answer depends on who is asked.
For politicians and democratic advocates, the survival of constitutional government itself is a remarkable achievement in a country once notorious for military coups.
For many ordinary Nigerians battling inflation, unemployment, insecurity and poverty, democratic dividends often appear distant and abstract.
Between these two realities lies the true story of Nigeria’s democratic journey—a story of resilience, missed opportunities, institutional growth, elite dominance, economic transformation and persistent governance challenges.
As the nation moves closer to three decades of uninterrupted civilian rule, the time has come to assess the lessons, gains and unfinished tasks of Nigeria’s democratic project.
The first and perhaps most significant achievement of the past 27 years is democratic stability.
Before 1999, military intervention had become a recurring feature of Nigerian politics. Governments rose and fell through coups. Constitutions were suspended. Political parties disappeared overnight.
Since the inauguration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999, Nigeria has experienced regular elections and peaceful transfers of power, despite controversies and setbacks.
The country has witnessed transitions from Obasanjo to Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, from Yar’Adua to Goodluck Jonathan, from Jonathan to Muhammadu Buhari, and subsequently to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
THE 2015 MILESTONE
Perhaps the most defining moment came in 2015 when Jonathan conceded defeat to Buhari, marking the first time an incumbent president lost an election and peacefully handed over power to the opposition.
Political scientist and governance analyst, Dr. Adebayo Salami, describes this as democracy’s greatest victory.
“Countries do not become democratic because elections are perfect. They become democratic because political actors accept constitutional outcomes instead of violence. Nigeria deserves credit for sustaining that culture.”
Another major gain is the expansion of political participation. Millions of Nigerians who once had little say in governance now vote, contest elections, join political parties and engage in civic advocacy.
Civil society organizations have grown significantly since 1999. Groups focusing on election monitoring, transparency, anti-corruption campaigns, human rights and public accountability have become influential actors in national discourse.
The media has also expanded dramatically.
Under military rule, journalists often faced detention, censorship and closure of media houses.
Today, newspapers, television stations, radio networks and digital platforms operate with significantly greater freedom, despite occasional tensions with government authorities.
The rise of social media has further democratized public debate.
Citizens now challenge public officials directly, expose corruption allegations and mobilize support for social causes without relying entirely on traditional institutions.
The #EndSARS movement of 2020 demonstrated both the power and complexity of modern democratic engagement.
For many young Nigerians, it represented proof that civic participation extends beyond election day.
Democracy has also produced institutional growth.
The judiciary, legislature and electoral bodies have gradually developed stronger identities compared to their counterparts under military rule.
The National Assembly, once dismissed as a rubber stamp institution, has evolved into a more assertive arm of government.
Though often criticized for inefficiency and self-interest, lawmakers have increasingly exercised oversight functions through investigations, hearings and budget scrutiny.
The courts have similarly become important arbiters of political disputes.
Election petitions that once might have triggered instability are now routinely resolved through judicial processes.
Constitutional lawyer Barrister Ibrahim Musa argues that this represents an important democratic maturation.
“The fact that politicians increasingly go to court instead of the barracks is itself evidence that democratic institutions are taking root.”
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHANGES
Economically, the democratic era has witnessed major structural changes.
Nigeria’s telecommunications revolution stands as one of democracy’s clearest success stories.
In 1999, owning a telephone was considered a luxury. Mobile connectivity was limited and expensive.
Today, hundreds of millions of mobile lines connect Nigerians across urban and rural communities.
The sector has generated billions of dollars in investment and created millions of direct and indirect jobs.
The banking industry has similarly expanded through reforms, technological innovation and increased financial inclusion.
Digital payments, fintech services and online banking have transformed economic interactions in ways unimaginable at the beginning of the Fourth Republic.
Infrastructure development, though uneven, has also accelerated.
Successive administrations have invested in roads, rail projects, airports, bridges and power infrastructure.
Projects such as the Abuja-Kaduna rail line, the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor, the Second Niger Bridge and various expressway rehabilitations reflect attempts to address decades of infrastructure deficits.
However, democracy’s achievements coexist with significant disappointments.
Perhaps the most persistent criticism concerns governance quality.
Twenty-seven years after military rule ended, many Nigerians still lack access to reliable electricity, quality healthcare, potable water and functional public education.
The gap between democratic promises and everyday realities remains wide.
Corruption continues to undermine public trust. Despite anti-corruption campaigns launched by successive administrations, scandals involving public funds remain common.
Transparency International’s corruption perception rankings have repeatedly highlighted concerns about accountability within public institutions.
Many Nigerians believe political elites have benefited disproportionately from democratic governance while ordinary citizens continue to struggle.
Professor Chinyere Okafor, a public policy analyst, argues that democracy’s greatest failure has been its inability to translate political freedom into broad economic prosperity.
“We have succeeded in creating elections, but we have not fully succeeded in creating accountable governance. Democracy is not just about voting; it is about improving lives.”
Poverty remains one of the strongest criticisms of Nigeria’s democratic experience.
Despite periods of economic growth and oil revenue windfalls, millions of citizens continue to face economic hardship. Youth unemployment remains a major concern.
Inflationary pressures, currency instability and rising living costs have further intensified public frustration.
The paradox is striking.
Nigeria possesses enormous natural and human resources, yet a substantial proportion of the population continues to experience multidimensional poverty.
CLIMATE OF TERROR
Security presents another complex challenge.
At the dawn of the Fourth Republic, security concerns largely revolved around localized communal conflicts and criminal activities.
Today, the country faces multiple security threats, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist agitations and farmer-herder conflicts.
Entire communities have been displaced. Thousands of lives have been lost.
While security agencies have recorded successes in various operations, insecurity remains one of the most serious threats to democratic consolidation.
The inability of democratic governments to fully guarantee safety has weakened public confidence in governance structures.
Electoral integrity also remains a work in progress.
Although elections have improved compared to earlier years, concerns about vote-buying, violence, manipulation and logistical shortcomings persist.
The introduction of technological innovations by the Independent National Electoral Commission has improved transparency in some areas, but controversies continue to accompany major electoral contests.
Public confidence in election outcomes often fluctuates depending on political circumstances.
The challenge remains how to ensure that elections become increasingly credible, transparent and reflective of popular will.
Another major takeaway from 27 years of democracy is the emergence of a powerful political elite.
Political power has increasingly concentrated around governors, influential party leaders, financiers and political godfathers.
Internal party democracy remains weak.
Candidate selection processes frequently generate disputes and allegations of imposition.
Many citizens complain that elections often provide choices among elite factions rather than genuine grassroots alternatives.
This concentration of power raises questions about representation and inclusiveness.
Women, young people and persons with disabilities remain underrepresented in elective offices despite constituting significant portions of the population.
THE SILVER LINING
Yet, there are reasons for cautious optimism.
Nigeria’s democratic institutions have shown surprising resilience.
The country has survived election disputes, economic crises, constitutional controversies, security emergencies and political tensions without experiencing a democratic breakdown.
Unlike some African countries that have recently witnessed military takeovers, Nigeria has maintained constitutional continuity.
This resilience suggests that democratic norms, though imperfect, have become more deeply rooted.
A new generation of politically conscious citizens is also emerging.
Young Nigerians increasingly engage in policy debates, governance advocacy and electoral participation.
Digital technology has expanded access to information and increased public scrutiny of government actions.
Citizens are more informed and more demanding than ever before.
This growing civic awareness may prove one of democracy’s most important long-term assets.
Looking ahead, the future of Nigeria’s democracy will depend less on constitutional structures and more on governance outcomes.
The next phase of democratic consolidation requires stronger institutions, better service delivery, greater accountability and inclusive economic growth.
As Nigeria reflects on 27 years of civilian rule, the verdict is neither complete success nor outright failure.
The country has achieved what once seemed impossible: sustaining democracy across nearly three decades in a complex and deeply diverse federation. That achievement should not be underestimated.
Yet democracy was never intended merely to survive.
Its ultimate purpose is to create opportunity, justice, security and prosperity for citizens.
Twenty-seven years after the return to civilian rule, Nigeria can rightly celebrate the endurance of democratic governance.
The larger challenge is ensuring that the next twenty-seven years are remembered not simply for democratic survival, but for democratic performance.
For many Nigerians, that remains the unfinished promise of May 29, 1999. And perhaps the most important takeaway of all.
DEMOCRACY DAY PROTESTS
Meanwhile, Accord Party presidential candidate and Co-Chairman of the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR), Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has condemned the reported attack on human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and other protesters during a Democracy Day demonstration, describing it as a troubling sign for Nigeria’s democratic future.
Hashim, in a statement on Saturday, said the right to peaceful protest, free expression, and civic participation are fundamental elements of democracy and must not be undermined.
He warned that democracy cannot survive where citizens are intimidated for demanding accountability or expressing concerns about governance.
According to him, Democracy Day shouldn’t only mark the return to civilian rule but also serve as a reminder of the responsibility to protect democratic values, including freedom of Expression justice, constitutionalism, and the rule of law.
“Democracy is strengthened when citizens can freely speak, organise, and demand accountability from those entrusted with power. Any attempt to suppress these freedoms weakens democracy itself,” Hashim said.
The Presidential candidate, who recently became co-chair of MDR alongside NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajero, said the movement was established to defend Nigeria’s democratic space and prevent any drift towards authoritarianism.
He also condemned what he described as the continued harassment of Sowore, including the seizure of his passport, which he said remains unresolved despite legal interventions.
Hashim said MDR would continue to mobilise democratic forces, civil society, labour, and citizens committed to protecting democratic institutions and expanding civic freedoms.
“Nigeria must not return to an era where dissent is treated as a crime and citizens are denied their democratic rights. The defence of democracy is the responsibility of all who believe in freedom and accountable leadership,” he said.
CALL FOR UNITY
Highlighting the importance of the democratic milestone reached, the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Joseph Ikpea, called on Nigerians to work together to sustain the nation’s democracy, saying the country’s democratic journey was built on the sacrifices of heroes who paid the ultimate price for freedom and justice.
Ikpea made the call in a Democracy Day message made available to journalists in Benin City.
The lawmaker said June 12 remains a significant date in Nigeria’s democratic history and should serve as a reminder of the need for citizens to remain committed to protecting democratic values.
According to him, Nigerians must unite across political, ethnic and religious lines to preserve the democracy that was fought for by the late winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, his wife, Kudirat, and several other pro-democracy activists.
“Today is a day that we cannot joke with in the democratic history of Nigeria. We must work together to sustain the democracy that people like Chief MKO Abiola, his late wife, Kudirat, and several other people died for. Several others were incapacitated for life,” he said.
