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SPOTLIGHTS
- Nigeria’s democracy has regressed, despite economic potential
- Citizen empowerment and proactive solutions are crucial for progress
- The military’s role is to protect, not govern
- Nigerians should be proactive and work together for a better future
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Retired General Yakubu Usman, the pioneer battalion commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), has expressed concern over the state of Nigeria’s democracy. He argued that the nation has regressed in the past 25 years, despite being economically stronger in 1999.
ECOMOG, of which Nigeria is a member, is the military arm of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Formed in 1990, it intervenes in conflicts within the region.
In an interview with Daily Sun, General Usman characterized Nigeria’s democratic journey over the past 25 years as “one step forward, two steps backwards,” lacking significant political progress.
Reflecting on past regimes, from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to Muhammadu Buhari, General Usman noted that the high hopes for civilian rule in 1999 have been largely unfulfilled. He acknowledged that while each leader had strengths and weaknesses, the overall trajectory has been disappointing.
“We are not where we are supposed to be,” he lamented, pointing to the stark contrast between Nigeria’s vast resources and the economic hardship faced by its citizens.
He stressed that true democracy requires empowering the people and allowing them to shape their own destiny.
Despite his concerns, General Usman expressed no regrets about the country’s democratic path, acknowledging that the current situation reflects the choices made by the electorate.
Regarding international relations, General Usman affirmed Nigeria’s respected standing in Africa and globally, drawing on his experience serving with the United Nations and ECOMOG. He emphasized that the military’s role is to protect the nation and its leadership, not to govern.
Assessing the current administration, General Usman acknowledged that it is still early to judge their performance. However, he urged Nigerians to be proactive and not solely rely on the government for solutions.
“My advice to Nigerians is to be patient, which we have been. We should think out of the box and look for what we should do and not wait for the government because the government has a lot of responsibilities, and collectively we will move forward,” General Usman concluded.
