DEMOCRACY IS DYING GRADUALLY

I believe those advocates of democracy haven't been following the global trends of politics. Democracy is dying gradually and the electorates across the world wish for better forms of governance to create better lives for them.

We are living in times of change and people feel insecure and anxious. They don't believe existing institutions, elites and established ideologies are serving them well. Of 27 democratic countries survey by the Pew Research Centre, a majority in 21 countries believe they see little of change regardless of who wins an election. So, people are open to supporting populist leaders who play on their fears, seizes on scapegoats and promise to take decisive actions on their behalf. Tribal politics have also added to the problem. Tribalism is the enemy of institutions, norms and the rule of law, Fareed Zakaria opined.

Nigerians have been screaming the term 'democracy' into the unhealthy ears of Buhari to make him realize that he might be turning into a dictator. Buhari is not alone in the business of ruling with dirty iron hands. In fact, it’s the new norm among world leaders.

According to Fareed Zakaria of CNN, the world appears to be experiencing a 'democratic recession'. Data gathered by scholars have shown that the enthusiasm for autocrats has grown. Between 1995 and 2014, there were large increases in the share of people who would like to see a strong leader who doesn't have to bother with parliament and elections. That sentiment has grown by nearly 10 points in the US, almost 20 points in Spain and South Korea and about 25 points in Russia and South Africa.

Additionally, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson prorogued the parliament to support his plan for a no-deal Brexit in the European Union. President Donald Trump allegedly dug dirt on Hillary Clinton by colluding with Russia in 2016. He is giving his challenger Joe Bidden the same treatment by mounting pressure on Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden's son over his business dealings in the country. According to the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Trump worked actively to derail judicial processes.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia owns the press and has zero tolerance of opposition. His critic Alexei Navalny has been in and out of prison cells for speaking against the former KGB member. President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines shockingly supports extrajudicial killings. India's Narendra Modi has spoken in ungoverned ways that have terrified his country's minority groups and eroded its secular culture. Leaders like Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary have managed to change the constitution to assist in one party or one-man rule. This is a never- ending-list of world leaders bending the rules of the game of politics.

There is no ideal model of democracy in the world today; democracy is a mere journey and not a destination. With the level of hardship in Nigeria presently, the poor masses will not mind sacrificing their fundamental human rights for better economic opportunities like we have in China.