As Nigeria marked another Democracy Day, the pomp of celebration stood in sharp contrast to growing concerns about rising hardship, shrinking civic space, and a democracy that felt increasingly distant from the people it claimed to serve.
Development Diaries reports that President Bola Tinubu addressed a joint sitting of the National Assembly on the June 12 Democracy Day, with millions of everyday citizens left wondering where the democracy is in their daily struggles.
While the president’s speech emphasised his personal sacrifices for democracy and denounced the idea of a one-party state, the broader political climate paints a contrasting picture.
Many Nigerians, political actors, and civil society groups are growing increasingly alarmed at what they perceive to be a shrinking civic space, the suppression of dissent, and the erosion of democratic institutions.
Words alone will not suffice to reassure citizens who are bearing the brunt of economic hardship, weak governance, and exclusion from meaningful political participation.
The decision to suspend elected officials in Rivers State and appoint an administrator stands in stark contradiction to the democratic principles the president claims to uphold.
Democracy cannot thrive in a climate where constitutional mandates are bypassed and executive actions override the will of the people.
The president missed a key opportunity on the day to recommit to democratic norms by restoring the elected leadership in Rivers.
If the Tinubu administration is truly committed to preserving Nigeria’s democratic fabric, it must be willing to correct such overreaches and allow constitutional processes to prevail.
The discontent expressed by opposition leaders such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi further highlights the need for urgent course correction.
Their criticisms reflect a broader concern across the country that the government appears more interested in maintaining power than in ensuring everyone is included in the nation’s development.
Nigeria’s democracy was built on painful sacrifices and historic struggles. It must not be reduced to a symbolic celebration while the real tenets of liberty, rule of law, and pluralism are being quietly undermined.
Development Diaries calls on President Tinubu to now match his rhetorics with concrete steps that promote inclusive governance, uphold the independence of democratic institutions, and guarantee the rights of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
The restoration of democratic rule in Rivers State, respect for opposition voices, transparent electoral processes, and meaningful economic relief for suffering Nigerians would speak louder than any speech.
