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ABUJA, Feb 24 (IPS) – Mr. Mohamed Yahya is Resident Consultant UNDP NigeriaOn the morning of 24 September 1998, Common Abdulsalam A. Abubakar, the then Army Head of State of Nigeria, took the stage on the United Nations Headquarters and knowledgeable the leaders assembled for the United Nations Common Meeting debates and the world at giant of his intention to return Nigeria to a democratically elected civilian authorities on 29 Might 1999.
Nigerians, nevertheless hopeful, had purpose to be skeptical resulting from earlier unfulfilled guarantees of this nature. As promised, on 29 Might 1999, Common Abdulsalam A. Abubakar handed over the reins of presidency to a democratically elected president within the particular person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. This marked the transition to civilian rule by probably the most populace nation on the African continent. This single transfer rekindled the hopes, desires, and aspirations of hundreds of thousands of black and African youths, not solely in Nigeria, however all over the world.
Sadly, in current occasions, many Nigerians have change into cynical about democracy and its capability to ship on its guarantees of growth, peace, and financial prosperity.
This cynicism that has pushed participation generally elections to file lows, and migration out of Nigeria to file highs. As Nigeria prepares for the 2023 nationwide elections, it’s value remembering that the flexibility to take part within the election of leaders at each stage, whereas not a magic bullet, is without doubt one of the strongest instruments within the quest for self-determination. One that’s way more highly effective than cynicism.
Within the 1999 Common Elections that pitted Olusegun Obasanjo the previous navy ruler towards Banker and former Finance Minister Olu Falae, the election turnout was 52.3% of the eligible voters in line with information from the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee INEC.
That quantity went as much as an all-time excessive of just about 70% within the 2003 elections that noticed then President Obasanjo win re-election. By 2019 elections, it plummeted to a participation charge of 35%. The regular and dramatic decline in participation in the previous couple of election cycles is troubling for a rustic with a lot at stake. The decline in voter participation is properly attributed and, on the floor, seems to be pushed by cynicism within the democratic course of.
Nonetheless, the fantastic thing about a multiethnic pluralist democracy like Nigeria, lies in its citizen’s capability to criticize, admonish and finally change elected officers.
Consequently, peaceable dissent is without doubt one of the most stunning options of democracy. On the flip aspect, when dissent evolves into cynicism and finally disengagement from the political course of, it considerably weakens democracy and its meant advantages.
A London College of Economics research in 2008 recommended that cynicism can have an effect on the well being of democracy, blurring the road between reputable distaste for an administration with distaste for presidency altogether. The implications could be far reaching in breaking down the cohesiveness of society.
Dissuading folks from collaborating in politics, encouraging them to show away from credible sources of data, inciting folks to hitch stress teams or, in additional excessive instances, resorting to violence towards fellow residents and/or the state.
As the most important black democracy on this planet, and largest financial system on the African continent, Nigeria wields an unimaginable political and cultural affect. A secure, safe, and profitable Nigeria not solely reveals the remainder of Africa what cooperation, resilience, and dedication to good governance, democratic rules, the amicable decision of variations, and the rule of legislation appears to be like like, it additionally demonstrates that democracy can work in complicated and growing nations.
After I arrived in Nigeria in 2019, what I discovered most fascinating was that the folks throughout the nation weren’t obsessive about limitations, they had been ‘doers’, creators, and downside solvers.
Within the 3.5 years since, the nation has confronted unprecedented challenges; the sharp decline in oil costs, adopted by a world pandemic COVID-19 that disrupted the worldwide financial system, foreign money volatility and rising insecurity which has been exacerbated by violent insurgency in elements of the nation.
Regardless of the challenges, and they’re deep and many, a number of indicators spotlight that Nigeria is on the trail to progress and democratic maturity. What it wants now could be a extra engaged, lively, and constructive citizenry, particularly from the 59 million Nigerian youth (18-35) who make up 53% of the entire voting age inhabitants.
Though younger Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 34 make up about 40% of registered voters, solely 46% of those voters turned out to vote within the 2019 presidential elections.
Throughout UNDP Nigeria’s and Yiaga Africa’s #SixtyPercentOfUs marketing campaign, youths had been mobilized and inspired to actively take part within the upcoming elections contributing to hundreds of thousands new registered voters. In line with information lately launched by Nigeria’s Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), there are 93,469,008 registered voters and complete variety of collected Everlasting Voter Playing cards (PVC) 87,209, 007 with a 93.3% file assortment charge of PVCs, in comparison with the previous elections.
Regardless of the variety of folks being cynical with democracy, the chance to transform cynicism right into a constructive issue that helps to reignite the sense of nationhood and perception in democracy because the bedrock of prosperity for all is plain. The approaching elections current a renewed alternative to steer the nation, and by extension the continent, within the route of democratic consolidation and financial progress.
In my time because the Resident Consultant of UNDP in Nigeria, I’ve been privileged to go to not less than two-thirds of the states in Nigeria and had the consideration of interacting and fascinating with Nigerians throughout the assorted sectors of the society; from bizarre residents to the federal government and the personal sector and even the burgeoning artistic business.
Regardless of the challenges that Nigeria should grapple with, Nigeria’s promise is brightly lit throughout the varied and colourful Naija kaleidoscope. At UNDP, we stay dedicated to offering Nigeria with assist it wants to make sure that the promise of a affluent, a extra equal and peaceable Nigeria turns into a actuality for all its residents.
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedAuthentic supply: Inter Press Service
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