Anthony Vincent Utazi

Democracy That Works Anthony Vincent Utazi

Democracy as a form of government is useless if it is not working; if it does not satisfy a people's quest for good governance. It is not all governments that call themselves democracies are qualified to be so. There are true and false democracies. The dividing line between the two types of democracies is the place and level of involvement of the people in the administration of the state. True democracies are responsive, inclusive and equitable, accountable, effective, participatory and there is respect for the rule of law. Citizens in true democracies enjoy good governance. A true democracy is a democracy that works for a people. It works because of the relationship that exists between the state and the masses. The state actively promotes the wellbeing of the masses through effective and efficient management of the common resources. It also encourages masses effective participation in the administration of the state. This the state does through responsive and inclusive governance. The masses are transparently carried along by the state as it manages the common wealth. Where the state is responsive, transparent, accountable and inclusive, the masses would develop special trust and bond with the state. The masses would develop desire and test for democracy. They would be well disposed for democratic governance of the state. In recent time good governance has become a standard for measuring a working democracy. Thus in trying to determine how a democracy works in any land we have to determine how it has helped in improving the wellbeing of the masses as progressive beings through the lens of good governance principles. The good governance principles are: participation, equity and inclusiveness, responsiveness, accountability, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness and rule of law. Where the performance index of the state averagely is below minimum accepted standard, democracy is said not to be working. In the final analysis a democracy is said to be working if governance is responsive to the grievances, needs and aspirations of the people as progressive beings. Second democracy is said to be working where there is inclusive governance: where citizens enjoy equal opportunities to participate in the governance of the state and to develop themselves in ways and manners that suit their persons. Third democracy is said to be working where there is respect to the rule of law and citizens have confidence in the legal system of the land. In view of the above can we say that democracy in Nigeria is working?