Sylvester Odion-Akhaine argues that Ghana’s democracy has advanced significantly in the last twenty years compared to Nigeria. He cites innovations in the electoral process and the strength of institutions in Ghana, while Nigeria suffers from issues like rigged elections, human rights abuses, and mismanagement of public resources, contributing to its stagnation in democratic growth.
Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, a Political Science Professor and Human Rights Activist, asserts that Ghana has made substantial progress in its democratic practices over the past two decades compared to Nigeria. He emphasizes that Ghana focuses on institutional development, reflected in improvements within the electoral process and the professionalism of its Electoral Commission, Judiciary, and Security Agencies.
During the 103rd Inaugural Lecture at Lagos State University, titled “Shifting For Good: The Weapon Of Empiricism In The Disorder Of A Third Wave Of Democracy In Africa,” Odion-Akhaine highlighted the qualitative growth of Ghanaian democracy as opposed to Nigeria’s quantitative growth, which lacks the same level of innovation and institutional resilience.
He noted the international community’s role in enhancing Ghana’s democratic environment, especially through the establishment of a peace council that comprises religious and civic leaders aimed at mediating electoral conflicts. In contrast, Nigeria has seen a singular power transition from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, indicating stagnation in its democratic evolution.
Odion-Akhaine identified four key issues hampering Nigeria’s democratic progress: firstly, a long history of rigged elections, with even Commonwealth Observers acknowledging the country’s decline in electoral standards since 2007. Secondly, systematic human rights violations have marked every administration since 1999, highlighted by notorious incidents such as the Odi and Zaki Biam massacres.
Thirdly, ethnic divides continue to shape Nigeria’s political landscape, influencing voting behaviors and perpetuating conflicts. Finally, mismanagement of public finances is a severe concern, with a considerable portion of national income allocated to recurrent expenditures, significantly affecting capital investments and leading to vast corruption.
Moreover, the report reflects a bleak view of Nigeria’s economy, labeling it as non-productive and reliant on the misappropriation of public funds. The political elite perpetuate this system, often utilizing their positions solely for personal gain, resulting in a cycle of corruption and economic inefficiency, with estimates indicating that over 70% of national income is consumed by administrative costs instead of developmental spending.
In summary, Nigeria’s democracy stagnates due to persistent electoral malpractices, human rights violations, ethnic conflicts, and poor financial management. Ghana’s experience offers a contrasting model of democratic resilience through institutional reforms and community engagement in electoral processes, emphasizing the necessity for Nigeria to address its democratic deficiencies to foster genuine political progress.
Original Source: businessday.ng
