The foundation of modern democracy hinges on the right not to be dealt with arbitrarily by anyone. Also the progress of liberty in a democracy is measured by the enforcement of true national law as against willful interference by those who feel they can obstruct the will of the people across the country from being realized.   The true emancipation of the citizens from those who believe in bulldozing their will on the people is true democracy, for we can only claim that we have made advance in our democracy when those who use arbitrary power lose the authority to rule by fiat.

We must therefore assume that the burden to clearly conceive the goals for directing our society toward achieving sound democratic ideals rests on the league of our elected representatives, judiciary, as well as nonpartisan executives exercising their functions within the ambit of the law and in the public interest. By so doing we may discard the present dictatorship that has crept into our democratic process.

Dictators, who pretend to rule by popular consent while actually forcing their will on public institutions, end up destroying the institutions through which the popular will can express itself freely thereby practicing an ugly fraud against democracy.  The international community should be paying close attention to those leaders who confer upon themselves unlimited powers against those guaranteed by their constitution, so they could eventually hold such leaders to account for their action once they cease to be in control. Using force to destroy liberty under democratic systems present a challenge which is suicidal to ignore and it is a betrayal of liberty to hide or refuse to defend it when it really exists.  A free nation cannot tolerate arbitrary use of power and any form of dictatorship covered under democratic garb.

 

 

 (c) The Optimist Voice. Al rights reserved

 

NIGERIA NEWS

Solidifying Democratic Practices in Nigeria

Abba B. Shuwa,  Leeds UK ...May 28, 2011

That there has been serious invasion and usurpation of the legislative and judicial arms of government by the executive is not in doubt going by recent developments taking place in Nigeria. It is true people feel hopeless, and that the general feeling is that nothing can be done about it because the executive has made a habit of using government funds to exercise control over the other arms of government. Our democracy is doomed if it fails to perform the greatest of its functions i.e. allowing elected representatives to freely express their opinions and weigh issues for or against a proposal without bias or partisan consideration.

There are signs that the party in control of government is using subtle, coarse means to assert its authority over the legislature by insisting on choosing its leadership through a workable agreement that would eventually place its control at the disposal of the executive. The upholding of the controversial rule passed by the senate on the process for the selection of its leadership is an unworkable rule which seems to be standing for adjustment before the commencement of the new legislative session in accordance with laid down legislative process.

The attempt by the ruling party and the government to impose its will on the legislature will succeed in cancelling the powers of the legislature and establish the condition under which they can be monetarily bought by the executive by rendering assistance to those who are with the executive as against those who attempt to assert their will. Our democratic governance would then become engulfed in conflict of personal interest against that of national interest.

We must observe that the leaders of free nations do not see their government as mere expression of free will but rather consider government as consisting of a body of officials, some elected; some appointed who handle public duties professionally. Checking arbitrary power and allowing the legislature the latitude to exercise their duties without interference is what allows consensus to be reached by consent and not force or coercion.  And that is how you can allow for the maturing of day to day observation of justice, fair play, moral codes in public service by allowing those responsible for the affairs of the people to make their decisions without interference.