Happy new week hivers, this is a very thoughtful topic. Hmmm, democracy. Before I share my thoughts, I will like to first explain what democracy means. Democracy is a system of government where power is in the hands of the people, either directly or through the people they elect as leaders. Or let Simply put, it is a way of governing where citizens have a say in decision-making and can hold their leaders accountable.
[source](https://pixabay.com/photos/protection-hands-to-protect-450595/)
Now, the question is, do we really have a say in decision-making? In my country, Nigeria, we practice democracy, or at least we claim to. But are we truly democratic? Do we really have free and fair elections? Do we genuinely have freedom of speech, freedom of protest, and all the other rights democracy is supposed to give? To me, the answer is no.
For example, the last time Nigerians came out to protest peacefully, it ended in disaster. If thugs are not sent by some politicians to scatter things, then the police will come in with tear gas and force to disperse people. And this is in a country that says it practices democracy. Isn’t democracy supposed to allow the people to freely express themselves? Isn’t it supposed to give us the right to protest without fear? But here, once the leaders feel threatened, they quickly find a way to silence the people.
So when I think of democracy in Nigeria, I ask myself, has it really helped the wellbeing of the people? Honestly, I don’t think so. Our lives are still very hard. Many people are still poor, unemployment is everywhere, and basic things like good roads, quality healthcare, and constant electricity are still missing. If democracy is really working, shouldn’t the people enjoy more of the benefits? Shouldn’t the government be more accountable? But what we see most of the time is leaders doing what they want without caring about the people.
[source](https://pixabay.com/photos/human-rights-human-rights-symbol-1898841/)
However, I will still say that democracy is the best form of government, not because it is perfect, but because other systems are worse. Our parents who have seen military rules have told us about military rule before, and it was not better. Dictatorship gives too much power to one person, and that leads to oppression. Democracy, when it works properly, gives room for freedom, equality, and accountability. The problem is not with democracy itself, the problem is with our leaders who refuse to allow democracy to function the way it should.
If Nigeria had leaders who respected the rule of law, conducted free and fair elections, listened to the voices of the people, and made themselves accountable, then democracy would be a blessing. It would be the best system because it would protect the rights of every citizen, it would give people the chance to vote for leaders they trust, and it would bring about real development. Sadly, what we are experiencing now is just a shadow of democracy, not the real thing.
For me democracy is still the best system of government for Nigeria, but only if we let it work the way it should. For now, it has not really helped the wellbeing of my people, because our leaders are not allowing the system to function. We don’t need another form of government; what we need are better leaders who will respect the values of democracy and put the people first. Only then will democracy bring true freedom, fairness, and prosperity to my nation.
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