Professor Sylvester Odion-Akhaine argues that Ghana’s democracy has improved significantly compared to Nigeria’s over the past two decades due to robust institutional building and fair electoral processes. He highlights major challenges facing Nigeria, including rigged elections, human rights abuses, and economic mismanagement, which impede its democratic development.
Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, a Professor of Political Science and Human Rights Activist, asserts that Ghana has made substantial progress in democracy over the past two decades in contrast to Nigeria. He emphasizes Ghana’s focused efforts on institutional capacity-building, which are evident in enhancements and steady improvements in the electoral process.
Odion-Akhaine points out that Ghana’s Electoral Commission, Judiciary, and Security Agencies showcase institutional robustness through their resilience, professionalism, and impartial handling of electoral proceedings, qualities that are lacking in Nigeria. This commentary was made 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.”
The Professor illustrates that while Ghanaian democracy has evolved qualitatively, Nigeria’s has only expanded quantitatively. He cites international influences in establishing a peace council comprising religious and civic leaders to mediate electoral conflicts as a significant factor in Ghana’s success.
He compares the democratic milestones of both countries, noting that Ghana has successfully transitioned power four times since 2000 between the National Democratic Congress and the New People’s Party, whereas Nigeria has experienced just one significant power shift from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress in 2015.
Odion-Akhaine identifies four major issues contributing to Nigeria’s stagnation: the persistent occurrence of rigged elections, severe human rights violations, frequent ethnic conflict affecting voting patterns, and the unparalleled mismanagement of public funds. He expresses concern that since 1999, Nigeria’s political landscape has been marred by these afflictions.
He reiterates that the absence of free and fair elections has been a foundation of Nigeria’s democratic inadequacies, citing the Commonwealth Observers’ condemnation of the 2007 elections as falling below established standards. He also mentions the political turmoil tied to violent incidents affecting Nigeria’s governance.
Moreover, he discusses that the climate of violence has been compounded by notorious events like the Odi and Zaki Biam massacres and the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency, which have further eroded human rights protections. Additionally, he highlights that identity politics continue to fuel ethnic divisions.
Finally, he critiques the misappropriation of public resources and the overwhelming governmental focus on recurrent spending, which he states consumes over 70 percent of national income. This, in turn, hampers productive investment and exacerbates Nigeria’s economic malaise while fostering a corrupt political elite.
Overall, Professor Odion-Akhaine’s lecture underscores the complexities surrounding Nigeria’s democratic challenges compared to the advancements observed in Ghana’s political landscape.
In conclusion, Professor Sylvester Odion-Akhaine sheds light on the stark contrasts between the democracies of Nigeria and Ghana. He emphasizes that while Ghana has made notable improvements through institutional strength and fair elections, Nigeria struggles with systemic issues such as electoral malpractice, human rights violations, and fiscal mismanagement. These pathologies, he argues, hinder Nigeria’s democratic progression, reflecting a broader stagnation in its political landscape.
Original Source: businessday.ng
