Professor Sylvester Odion-Akhaine critiques Nigeria’s democratic stagnation compared to Ghana’s advancements. He identifies four main issues causing Nigeria’s struggles: rigged elections, human rights violations, entrenched identity politics, and mismanagement of public funds. Each of these factors has contributed to a lack of democratic stability, contrasting sharply with Ghana’s progress in peaceful power transitions and institutional strength.
Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, a Professor of Political Science and Human Rights Activist, argues that Ghana has made significant democratic advancements over the past two decades compared to Nigeria. He attributes Ghana’s success to effective institutional building and innovations within the electoral framework, as well as the impartiality of its Judiciary and Security Agencies.
In his 103rd Inaugural Lecture at the Lagos State University entitled “Shifting For Good: The Weapon Of Empiricism In The Disorder Of A Third Wave Of Democracy In Africa,” he emphasized that Ghana has demonstrated qualitative growth in democracy. Conversely, Nigeria’s democracy has only seen quantitative change.
Professor Odion-Akhaine noted Ghana’s progress in democratic transitions, observing that power has changed hands through four election cycles since 2000 between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New People’s Party (NPP). In contrast, Nigeria has seen only a single power transfer from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.
He associates Nigeria’s stagnation with four major issues: the lack of free and fair elections, pervasive human rights violations, entrenched identity politics affecting voting patterns, and unprecedented mismanagement of public funds. He stated that since 1999, elections have been marred by rigging, undermining the principle of consent of the governed.
The electoral crisis reportedly reached a nadir in 2007 when Commonwealth Observers cited Nigeria’s elections as failing to meet minimum standards. Professor Odion-Akhaine lamented that politically motivated killings reflect a dire political landscape, while the scars of violent ethnic conflicts continue to shape voter behavior.
Moreover, the mismanagement of public funds has been catastrophic; he noted that a staggering 70% of national income is consumed by recurrent expenditures, hindering capital development. This fiscal mismanagement, coupled with the culture of looting by political elites, has exacerbated Nigeria’s economic challenges.
He concluded by highlighting the urgent need for reforms, emphasizing that the current political framework exacerbates systemic issues of poverty and disempowerment, which are often precursors to civil unrest and coups.
In summary, Nigeria’s democratic progression has been impeded by a lack of fair elections, human rights abuses, identity politics, and gross mismanagement of public funds. In contrast, Ghana’s commitment to institutional integrity and electoral reforms has fostered a more resilient democratic environment. Professor Odion-Akhaine’s analysis underscores the critical need for reforms in Nigeria to address these systemic challenges and enhance democratic governance.
Original Source: businessday.ng
