Examining the Stagnation of Nigeria’s Democracy Compared to Ghana

Professor Sylvester Odion-Akhaine criticizes Nigeria’s stagnating democracy, comparing it unfavorably to Ghana’s progress over the past two decades. He identifies four major issues affecting Nigeria, including electoral fraud, human rights abuses, ethnic politics, and mismanagement of public funds, which collectively hinder its democratic growth.

Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, a Professor of Political Science and Human Rights Activist, asserts that Nigeria’s democracy is stagnating compared to that of Ghana. He emphasizes that over the past two decades, Ghana has made substantial progress in institutional development, which is reflected in innovations and enhancements in its electoral process. In contrast, Nigeria has not achieved similar advancements.

According to Professor Odion-Akhaine, key institutions in Ghana, including the Electoral Commission, Judiciary, and Security Agencies, demonstrate resilience, professionalism, and impartiality, thereby strengthening democracy. In his keynote address during the 103rd Inaugural Lecture at Lagos State University, he referred to his lecture titled, “Shifting For Good: The Weapon Of Empiricism In The Disorder Of A Third Wave Of Democracy In Africa.”

He noted that Ghanaian democracy has qualitatively improved, whereas Nigeria’s democratic growth has been merely quantitative. Additionally, he pointed out that the international community has supported Ghana by establishing a peace council comprising religious and civic leaders to mediate electoral conflicts, an initiative that has not found a parallel in Nigeria.

The Professor illustrated the contrast between the two nations by citing Ghana’s successful democratic transitions, where power has changed hands between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New People’s Party (NPP) over four electoral cycles since 2000. Conversely, Nigeria has witnessed only one significant transfer of power, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

Odion-Akhaine attributes Nigeria’s ongoing political issues to four primary pathologies. Firstly, he points to the lack of free and fair elections, as virtually all elections since 1999 have been marred by rigging, undermining the democratic principle of the governed’s consent. He notes that the Commonwealth Observers have reported that Nigeria failed to meet its own electoral standards since 2007.

Secondly, he highlights persistent human rights violations that have characterized every administration post-1999, with notable abuses such as the Odi and Zaki Biam massacres, as well as the Boko Haram insurgency exacerbating the situation. These issues contribute to a politically toxic environment fueled by identity politics.

Thirdly, he observes that ethnic identity continues to influence voting patterns, along with periodic clashes among different ethnic groups. Finally, he criticizes the unprecedented mismanagement of public funds within Nigeria’s fourth republic, describing the political climate as one that permits egregious exploitation of public resources, which further erodes economic productivity. He states that a staggering 70 percent of national income is consumed by recurrent expenditures, which significantly hampers capital investment in the country.

In conclusion, Professor Sylvester Odion-Akhaine contends that Nigeria’s democracy remains stagnant due to institutional weaknesses, electoral fraud, human rights violations, ethnic conflicts, and mismanaged public finance. In contrast, Ghana has made notable strides in democratic governance, which Nigeria could learn from to improve its own electoral and political landscape.

Original Source: businessday.ng