By Emeka Alex Duru
Make no mistakes about it; democracy
is not a sure bet for emergence of good leaders. It is also not a guarantee for
good governance. But it allows the electorate a voice on how they are governed
and grants them the freedom of choice and participation in the affairs of the
state, at least, ideally.
It is this people-content that separates democracy from other forms of government. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was therefore right in defining democracy as the government of the people, for the people, by the people. Take away the people-factor, it is no longer democracy, no matter how benevolent it may seem. A system that is shorn of democracy, is an aberration. But then, democracy, if not properly managed and protected by the relevant checks, can be abused by even elected leaders. This is part of the reasons why every Nigerian must ensure that the current democracy in the land, is not truncated.
