Nigeria’s democracy evolving despite challenges, says NBA chairman-elect

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The Chairman-Elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Makurdi Branch, Mr. Joseph Gbagyo, says Nigeria’s democracy is making progress despite the numerous challenges facing the country.

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Gbagyo stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Makurdi.

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According to him, 27 years after Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, the country has recorded significant gains, particularly in sustaining peaceful transitions of power without military intervention.

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The legal practitioner described the uninterrupted democratic experience as a major achievement and a sign of Nigeria’s political maturity.

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“However, whether we are truly adhering to the democratic principles practised by countries we often model ourselves after, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, is a different matter entirely,” he said.

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He noted that democracy is meant to serve the people and questioned whether citizens were fully enjoying its benefits.

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Gbagyo said elected leaders enter into a social contract with the people and are expected to provide quality healthcare, education, security, welfare and an enabling environment for development.

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He pointed to challenges such as insecurity, political tensions, inflation and infrastructure deficits as issues that continue to raise concerns about the delivery of democratic dividends.

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Expressing optimism about the country’s future, he said Nigerians could build a better nation if leaders embraced the core values of democracy, including fairness, equity, respect for the rule of law and adherence to the principle of separation of powers.

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According to him, fully entrenching these values would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and governance system.

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On insecurity, Gbagyo said addressing the challenge requires strong political will and decisive leadership.

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He cited countries such as Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Egypt as examples of nations that have made progress in tackling security and governance challenges.

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He stressed that insecurity in Nigeria should not be viewed through ethnic or religious lenses but as a national issue requiring a coordinated response led by the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

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Gbagyo also advocated the deployment of technology, including artificial intelligence, to strengthen security operations across the country.

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He, however, maintained that the effective use of technology and resources depends largely on political will.

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“Where there is political will, resources will be properly utilised. Unfortunately, what we often witness is the underutilisation of resources meant for addressing insecurity,” he said.

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He added that overcoming insecurity requires leaders to place national interest above political, ethnic and religious considerations.

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“With strong political will and effective use of available resources, Nigeria can make meaningful progress in addressing its security challenges,” he said.

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(NAN)

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