Democracy by Eguriase S. M. Okaka
DEMOCRACY
By Eguriase S. M. Okaka
Meaning of Democracy
Democracy is a form of government that had its root in Athens in ancient Greece in Europe. The democracy is derive from two Greek words “Demo” meaning “the people” and “Krates” meaning “rule”.
In this form of government power belongs to the people, administered by the people and the powers to elect representatives/officials are vested on the people sometime democracy is referred to as government by the consent of the governed.
Democracy may be defined as a system of government in which all eligible people of a state or country can vote to elect their representatives. According to Abraham Lincoln, democracy can be defined as government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is a form of government in which power belongs to the people as a whole.
Feature of Democracy
Democracy is the most popular form of government today because of it features. They include:
• Independence of the judiciary
• Majority rule
• Application of the rule of law
• One man one vote
• Popular consultation
• Political equality
Independence of the Judiciary: The judiciary which is one of the organs of government should be completely independent in dispensing justice without interference from any quarters. The independence of the judiciary is very vital to the sustainability of democracy in any country. Undue interference by government, some powerful politicians, etc., leads to injustice. Injustice discharged may cause disorderliness, destruction of life and properties, and sometimes lead to truncation of democracy.
Majority Rule: In a democratic system, election is conducted periodically as spelt out in the constitution; and in the conduct of these elections, those who have the highest number of votes cast are declared winners to represent the people.
Application of the Rule of Law: It means government and its agencies must function and operate according to the laws of the Land (constitution) and every citizen’s action and inaction must be guided by the provision of the constitution of the country.
One man one vote: It means every registered voter that is eligible to vote is allowed or qualified to vote once. Multiple voting is a crime and must be discouraged by all. Those that are not eligible to vote should not in any way come close to the voting center.
Popular Consultation: In democracy, power belongs to the people and therefore every good government embarks on total consultation with the people in decision making. The majority decisions are accepted and implemented to the letter. This means the decisions to citing of a particular project e.g., borehole, school, market, etc., in an area must have been discussed and accepted by the people.
Political Equality: In democracy government, we have two or multiple political parties. Nigeria operates a democratic government with multi political parties such as Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressive Congress (APC), (APGA) etc. All these parties must be given equal treatment at all times by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the government in power. The commission should try by all means to be independent and treat all political parties equally during and after elections. The commission must also remain as an unbiased umpire if democracy is to thrive in our country, Nigeria.
Forms of Democracy
There are basically two forms of democracy. They are:
• Direct democracy
• Indirect democracy
Direct Democracy: This type of democracy occurs when all adults or citizens of a community or country assemble themselves in a place to deliberate over matters affecting the society such that at the end of the deliberation people are allowed to vote by rising up of hands with the majority vote winning. By this, the decision of the majority are adopted and used to address the community, state or the country’s affairs. Direct democracy is not common but took its root from the ancient city of Greece where the adults will gather at the city square to discuss the affairs of their people. Direct democracy was practiced in Nigeria by the Igbo people during the pre-colonial era in Nigeria.
Indirect (Representative) Democracy: In this type of democracy, electorates go to the polls to express their opinion by voting for people who will represent them in government, and speak and act on their behalf. In direct democracy may also be referred as representative democracy.
Nigeria operates the indirect form of democracy where Councilors, Chairmen of Local Government Councils, State House of Assembly Members, Governors, Representatives, Senators, President are elected to represent the people and take decisions on their behalf.
Characteristics of Democracy
Democracy is the most accepted form of government in the world today because of its characteristics. The characteristics are as follows:
Authority and power comes from the people: Those positions of authority are elected by the people and the power they possess comes from the people. Therefore, those in authority should serve the interest of the people, while the people in turn should respect the authority of those elected.
Existence of the rule of law: The concept of the rule of law means the law of the land is supreme and that every citizen is equal before the law. Government activities and functions as well as citizens’ action must be guided by the provision of the constitution. The rule of law forbids the arbitrary use of power. The rule of law was propounded by Professor A. V. Dicey. The rule of law enhances the sustainability of democracy in any country, and prevents the emergence of dictatorship.
Periodic election: In democracy, elections are conducted based on the electoral guidelines. The elections are conducted periodically to elect those that will represent the electorates in government. In Nigeria, election is conducted every four years to elect new representatives after the expiration of their tenure in office.
Independence of the Judiciary: In a democratic system, the judiciary is expected to operate without interference from government, political parties, groups and most powerful individuals. Judiciary is the last hope of the common man and therefore, the judges must be fair and independent in passing judgment.
Freedom of speech: People must be allowed to express their views and opinions on all issues concerning the citizens and the country without fear of any intimidation.
Free press: Sometimes, the press is the mouth piece of the public or the people. The press expresses the views and opinions of what transpired in government, the people’s opinions over issues and what happens in the political system are brought to the hearing of the public on the elections, print and social media.
Existence of more than one political party: In a democratic government, there is more than one political party. Nigeria operates its democracy on multiple political parties. These political parties provide alternatives from which the citizens make their choice based on their ideology and manifestoes. Some of the current political parties in Nigeria are:
• People’s Democratic party (PDP)
• ALL Progressive Congress (APC)
• African democratic Congress (ADC)
• Social Democratic Party (SDP)
• Action Democratic Party (ADP)
• All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA
• Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD)
• All Democratic Peoples Movement (ACD)
• Labor Party (LP)
• National Conscience Party (NCD)
• National Democratic Party (NDP)
• Peoples Progressive Party (PPP)
• Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) etc.
Nigeria currently has about ninety-one (91) registered political parties.
Notes: The first political party to be formed in Nigeria is Nigerian National Democratic Party in 1923 by Herbert Macaulay.
Fundamental human rights: These are rights that are basic for an individual to possess or have by virtue of being a human being. These rights are enshrined in every country’s constitution. In a democracy, government must ensure that the rights of citizens are protected. The fundamental human rights include rights to life, right to fair hearing, right to freedom of movement, right to peaceful association and assembly, etc.
Majority rule: In a democratic government, when election is conducted those that had the highest number of votes are declared winners to represent the people.
Democratic System: It is a system that operates direct or indirect (representative) form of democracy. They include:
• City state of ancient Greece
• Igbo village democracy
• Modern democratic system
The country that operate modern democratic system, include: Nigeria, Ghana, United states of America, South Africa, Liberia, Norway, Gambia, Iceland, Sweden, Canada, Denmark, Australia, Finland, New Zealand and Ireland etc.
Importance or Benefits of Democracy
The benefits of democracy are numerous. Some of them are listed below:
• Equal opportunity to all: Democracy ensures opportunity for all citizens in all areas.
• Stability: Democracy promotes stability in any country. A bad government is removed from office peacefully through the process of voting. A bad government is changed through the ballot box.
• Legitimacy: Democracy gives legitimacy to elected government because it is majority vote cast that put the people’s representative in office.
• Democracy erase misuse of power: It does not encourage the misuse of power because power and authority is not concentrated in the hand of one man.
• Democracy accepts oppositions: It encourages tolerance of the views or opinions of oppositions. The majority does have its way but the minority must have it say, and their interests are also protected.
• Fundamental human rights of citizens are guaranteed.
• Accountability of elected representatives to the people: They must be accountable to the electorates and the people when in power as long as the electorates have the power to recall them or vote them during elections.
• It gives the electorates the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice.
• Democracy gives leaders and the people the opportunity to correct their mistakes.
• Decision taking are reached or obtained through discussion or deliberation, arguments and persuasion. Decision taking must be collective.
• Democracy guarantees freedom of the press.
• Democracy guarantees steady development of infrastructure so that they have to show to people in case the party wants to remain in government, etc.
Disadvantages of Democracy
Though democracy is accepted to be the best form of government it still has its demerits. They include:
• Democracy is expensive to run.
• Delay in decision-making: In democracy, law making and the decision-making process are slow because many people have to be consulted and eventually agree before anything can be done unlike dictatorship where one person takes the decision.
• Democracy is all about political parties competing for power. Hence, there is no room for morality.
• In democracy, leaders keep changing from one political party to the other which may lead to instability in the political system and government.
Questions
• Define democracy
• State five characteristics of democracy
• Explain one of the forms of democracy
• List two types of democracy
• Give seven examples of countries that practice modern democratic system.
• State five merits or importance of democracy
• State disadvantages or demerits of democracy.
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