Democrazy And Its Spoils

By Favour Chukwuemeka Mark

In the event that Nigeria begins to walk in the tenets that define a democratic society, it will only then be called a True Democracy. But until then, what it practices as we have it today is DEMOCRAZY.

I don’t want to dabble into the study of meaning, it will only make me sound too enlightened and unnecessarily boring, at the same time. But then, the simplest of definitions always chorused of democracy right from our High School days will do. Which is that: Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Such a sweet rhythmic consonance.

Try juxtaposing the above definition with what is obtainable and see that it is purely antithetical. Fraudulent. Crazy.

You are either a member of the inglorious political group(s) which are fewer in number, or, you are in the opposition, also known as the masses. In democracy, the later are said to be the deciders of outcomes viz a viz elections, but in this system, they are decided for. That is how we see it and there is nothing you can do about that.

The funniest of all; the recruitment process, known as ELECTIONS. This is where you see the sweetness and theatrics of being a criminal, there is nothing elective here. Nothing. It is akin to a fixed match, where the referee goes to the pitch and acts a predetermined script. And this is not a hidden fact here; that elections are a mere formality. Selections had been concluded and the highest bidders have taken the bulk. It is at their behest that the “umpair,” in this case, the INEC, decides; otherwise, the second call (which are the courts) will do it. The highly compromised and pocketed judiciary, making it a hardly justiceable society.

A gagged media has not helped matters; as the courageous ones are harassed, arrested, molested and jailed, or even, killed. But no one wants to die; hence, the case of “If you can’t beat them, join them. Giving birth to brown envelope media.

The attributes associated with Democracy is being submerged. The Paramount “freedom of expressions” does not exist. Unless it is in their favour, peaceful protests are considered acts of infidelity and participants should be crucified.

But it is said that a people deserve the kind of leadership it gets. Is it not in this country that people are paid some amount of naira as mobilisation fee by these politicians to protest for or against? You would only know when the sharing goes wrong and fight erupts.
Religion, ethnicity and politics are the machinery with which DEMOCRAZY functions optimally. The masses who have been impoverished, out of hunger are always eager to serve as willing tools in exchange for a handout. Enthroning a widespread systemic corruption. So deeply rooted that it becomes a culture. Having enmeshed the masses in
poverty, their willpower is taken away and compromise is inevitable. The powers of the so called majority is completely eroded, While the elitist political class amass so much wealth, expanding their tentacles and influence. This is the spoils of DEMOCRAZY.

So, before the dividends of democracy reaches the people, the spoils of DEMOCRAZY have already eaten all. It’s been 21 years of uninterrupted DEMOCRAZY and we celebrate it.