IN this final installment of the series, we shift our focus from diagnosis to direction. Having explored the disillusionment behind our so-called democratic celebrations and questioned the value of the “dividends” returned to citizens, we now turn to the heart of the matter reclaiming the republic. This part is not about assigning blame but about charting a path forward. It is about recognizing that the task of national renewal cannot rest on one leader, one region, or one political party.
It must be a collective undertaking driven by a shared commitment to rebuild the institutions, values, and systems that give true meaning to democracy. We believe that the strength to revive Nigeria lies not in division or escape, but in unity, courage, and the resolve to make democracy work for all. The question is no longer whether democracy has failed us it is whether we are ready to fight for the democracy we deserve.
It’s important to recognize the difference between merely holding an election and actually realizing its true purpose. In many African countries, elections take place under the banner of democracy, and citizens cast their votes. Yet, the deeper meaning; the accountability, representation, and change that elections are meant to bring is often absent. As a result, the people are left feeling as though no real election ever occurred. This breakdown occurs when the majority of voters are denied a free and genuine choice between candidates. Even in situations where credible alternatives are on the ballot, the integrity of the choice is often undermined by systemic manipulation. Voters are frequently swayed through temporary incentives such as bags of rice, cash handouts, or job promises or subjected to subtle threats, social pressure, and outright violence to support the “chosen candidate” backed by political godfathers or the so-called powers-that-be.
While it’s true that elections are held, they often fall short of democratic standards. In many cases across Africa, including Nigeria, elections lack competitiveness, transparency, and fairness. For instance, ballot box snatching, voter suppression, and vote-buying remain persistent issues. The result is a compromised electoral process that offers the illusion of democracy without its substance. Citizens may go to the polls, but their votes are reduced to formalities in a game where outcomes are often prearranged.
Nigeria with its many potentials and impressive human resource, is a failed state. This is not a derogatory statement, but one based on factual pieces of evidence, many of which I provided in my previous pieces. If we are seeking solutions to our problems, we need to first and foremost understand what our problems are. Secondly, we need to recognize that our leaders have no clue on how to proceed; for you cannot fight a modern war with medieval implements. Therefore, the question is, how do we proceed to correct our bearings?
Nigerians have long been known as the pride of Africa; resilient, enterprising, and fiercely proud. We are a people who recoil at the thought of being second best, who thrive on competition, and who are celebrated globally for our ingenuity and strength of spirit. These qualities, now more than ever, should serve as a rallying cry to action. They should compel us to rise and confront the rot that has eaten deep into our national fabric: the scourge of bribery, corruption, and unaccountable leadership.
These vices have not only drained our economy and paralyzed public institutions, but they are dangerously close to tearing the country apart. The center, as many now say, can barely hold. In the face of this national decline, some voices have grown louder, calling for a breakup of the country arguing that each region might fare better on its own. While this sentiment may reflect real frustration, we must also recognize that a breakup especially one that is not carefully negotiated carries the risk of plunging the nation into chaos. A peaceful separation, if ever truly desired, must be coordinated and deliberate. But therein lies the irony: if we have the capacity to coordinate such a complex and sensitive process, then we undoubtedly possess the ability to reform and restructure our country instead. We can redesign the systems; political, economic, and social that currently fail us. We can reimagine Nigeria not as a burden to be escaped, but as a project to be renewed. What we need is not division, but determination. Not despair, but direction. The strength that would make a breakup possible is the same strength that can be harnessed to rebuild this nation into what it was always meant to be.
As we have seen in previous parts of this series, Nigeria’s democracy has largely failed to live up to its promise. The irony of Democracy Day amid violence and insecurity, the imbalance in the so-called dividends of democracy, and the systemic corruption that weakens every layer of governance; these are not the signs of a thriving republic. But while the current picture may appear bleak, the road to recovery is not out of reach. A country with strong democratic institutions lays the foundation for good governance, and from that, a resilient and equitable economy can grow.
Good governance is not a utopian fantasy; it is a practical, attainable reality. At its core, it is about doing things the right way: following due process, promoting transparency, and acting in the public interest rather than for personal or political gain. It is the ultimate expression of civic duty and patriotism, built on accountability and integrity.
In a truly governed state, public institutions are subject to robust checks and balances. Fraud detection systems and audits are routinely employed to monitor financial integrity at all levels. Policies are crafted with citizen welfare in mind, not as tools for elite enrichment. Just as importantly, consumer protection watchdogs are empowered to shield the public from exploitation, whether by corrupt public officers or predatory businesses. Price gouging, unethical corporate practices, and neglect of service delivery are not tolerated in a well-regulated, democratic economy. These are not impossible ideals. They are the foundational expectations of any functioning democracy. But for Nigeria to realize them, it must start by reforming and strengthening its institutions; political, judicial, and economic alike. It must recommit to accountability, empower independent oversight bodies, and instill a culture of public service driven by civic values. The citizens, too, must demand more, vote wisely, and reject the temptations of short-term gain that ultimately sabotage long-term progress.
The good news is that Nigeria already has many of the institutions needed for good governance; agencies, regulatory bodies, watchdogs, and frameworks that, on paper, should safeguard democracy and ensure justice. The bad news, however, is that these institutions have been systematically weakened; they are starved of the competence, autonomy, and funding required to function effectively. Those in positions of power often prefer it this way because strong, independent institutions threaten the corrupt systems they benefit from. Emasculated by neglect and deliberate sabotage, these agencies are unable to fulfill their mandates, allowing impunity to flourish and accountability to erode.
The mere mention of restructuring causes hearts to flutter, but for different reasons. For some, it provokes fear: fear of losing power, access to federal resources, and the long-standing ability to dominate and exploit the system unchecked. For others, restructuring brings hope: the dream of a new order where states reclaim authority over their resources, set their own development agenda, and finally break free from the grip of a centralized government. Yet both groups, those who fear it and those who celebrate it are making a fundamental mistake.
The fear-driven camp clings to a decaying structure of control, ignoring the fact that true stability cannot come from suppression. The hopeful camp, meanwhile, must realize that simply shifting power from the center to the states will not automatically fix a broken system. Without addressing the deep-seated issues of corruption, weak institutions, and poor leadership culture, a decentralized version of the same system will yield the same results just in multiple locations.
We must understand that reclaiming the republic is not the job of one person, one region, or one party. It is a collective responsibility. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”— African Proverb. The same strength and resilience Nigerians are known for, the same tenacity that makes us succeed across the globe must now be turned inward, toward rebuilding our nation. Not through division or despair, but through unity and determination. It is time to stop waiting for democracy to work for us and start working through democracy to make Nigeria what it was always meant to be.
