The Hijacked Dream: Nigeria's Democratic Promise Betrayed
Modern democracy in Nigeria emerged from struggle, sacrifice, and bloodshed, yet this hard-won system has been stolen from the people. What began as a vision for government of the people, by the people, and for the people has become a playground for greedy elites who have corrupted its very foundations.
These political figures, accurately described as the bastard fathers of Nigerian democracy, have systematically dismantled the nation's political institutions for personal gain. They operate with impunity, disregarding the constitution they swore to protect and undermining the rule of law at every turn.
The Broken Promise of Independence
When Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the dream was straightforward: self-governance, equity, and national progress. The early nationalists fought colonial rule envisioning leadership rooted in service to the people. Unfortunately, this vision proved short-lived.
Ethnic politics, corruption, and power struggles quickly replaced patriotism and collective advancement. Just seven years after independence, reckless political behavior sparked a bloody civil war whose consequences Nigeria still grapples with 55 years after the guns fell silent.
The leaders who inherited power after independence tragically transformed into native versions of colonial masters. Rather than empowering citizens, they replicated oppressive systems and enriched themselves, their tribesmen, and cronies. The democratic dream became a business empire built on manipulation, intimidation, vote-buying, and violence that has only worsened over time.
Military Mentality in Civilian Clothing
Nigeria's current democratic experiment remains haunted by its military past. Former generals who once ruled with firearms simply exchanged khaki uniforms for agbadas, rebranding themselves as civilian democrats while maintaining authoritarian mindsets.
The culture of impunity, suppression of dissent, and institutional greed characteristic of military rule seamlessly transitioned into the democratic era. Many contemporary politicians still operate with this military mentality, prioritizing control over service.
These bastard fathers of Nigerian politics have taught subsequent generations that politics concerns survival rather than service, power rather than people. They have institutionalized corruption, weaponized poverty, perverted justice, and silenced truth. Today, elections resemble warfare, appointments function as transactions, and policies operate as payoffs.
The Death of Political Ideology
One of Nigerian democracy's greatest tragedies remains the complete collapse of political ideology. Parties have become vehicles of convenience rather than conviction. Politicians migrate between parties without principle, guided solely by re-election prospects and financial gain.
Our so-called leaders demonstrate no vision beyond the next election cycle. They bargain rather than build, recycle rather than reform. Their loyalty belongs not to the people but to the godfathers who finance their campaigns and dictate their actions. While the nation suffers, the political class thrives, treating politics as a career path from councillorship to presidency.
Popular Complicity in Democratic Failure
Nigerians must confront an uncomfortable truth: the people have become both victims and accomplices in this democratic failure. Years of manipulation and economic hardship have transformed many citizens into willing tools of their oppressors.
Votes are sold for bags of rice, consciences traded for few thousand naira. This situation perfectly serves the bastard fathers' interests, who understand that poor, divided, and dependent populations cannot challenge their deceitful rule. An enlightened, united citizenry would inevitably reject their corrupt governance.
Reclaiming Nigeria's Democratic Future
Condemnation alone cannot solve Nigeria's political crisis. The nation must chart a new course forward. Democracy's future rests with a new generation of patriots who understand leadership as responsibility rather than title.
Nigeria must rebuild its political culture on foundations of truth, equity, transparency, and justice. Civic education, youth participation, and electoral reform require urgent prioritization. The media, civil society, and ordinary citizens must unite to expose and reject corrupt leadership at all levels.
The true fathers of democracy are those who champion justice, equity, and the rule of law—not those manipulating systems for personal gain. Until Nigeria names and rejects the bastard fathers of its politics, democracy will remain a fragile illusion: elections without meaning, governance without morality, and freedom without progress.
Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads today. The bastard fathers' legacy continues shaping national destiny, but the power to break free rests with the people. Citizens can no longer afford spectator roles while democracy is desecrated. The time has arrived to reclaim Nigeria's democratic promise—not with weapons but with truth, unity, and courage.
Paul Okojie, a journalist, wrote from Benin City.
