I have always been fascinated about her writings​. This fine trained psychologist can slice through any topic like hot knife piercing through butter. She does so with the finesse that is uniquely hers, a fine trait that makes her Ezinne Arua.

I trust you would find her "Reflections​ on Democracy" (my caption). Soon we hope to be blessed with her writings frequently.

Happy reading.

OjisiEmezie

I pray I live to see the day when our recorded achievements as a Nation will make a mockery of the savage we are living through in this our primitive days of democracy.

Democracy is a beautiful thing. According to its simplest definition, it is the government of the people, by the people, for the people. The very sound of it echos hope to those who practice other forms of government.

During our stints with the Military, democracy was the only Change we hoped for. A Change we got, a Change that has proved not to be that which we had hoped for.

Every four years, we fulfill the righteousness of an election. Admittedly, it bests the era of violent overthrow of the government, coups and other forms of military menace. Our electoral and transitory process is not much a bane on our democracy as the quality of leaders that get elected into leadership positions. For the right man (or woman) can get things done, while the wrong man (or woman) can rip away everything right in the system.

I remember this day in 1999. I can still see a picture of President Obasanjo in my head, waving to Nigerians after he was sworn-in as a civilian President. I remember the symbolic drive of the military back into the barracks. Maybe their trucks drove back, but the men did not. They only hung up their boots and uniforms and adorned the apparel of civilians and the game (simply) continued.

From the East to the West, North to South, there are countless ex-military men who have taken up civilian rule. From the Lords to their boys, they have also raised a new breed of "non-former military" politicians who have the same drive as they. Clinging to power by all means necessary and hoarding power as though it is a material object.

It is hard adjusting to ways that is unfamiliar to one. No one taught us how to be democratic. I understand that it may be hard to shed old ways. The struggle to become "anew" is seen in the ridiculous contrast between the democracy we read about in textbooks, that we see being practiced in other Nations and the democracy we have here in our Nigeria.

Early days can be hard. Great democratic Nations of today once joggled with their own democracy too, most still do. Nigeria too will learn.

It is up to us to shed the cloak of apathy, and build a democracy that would appeal, not to the money mongers, but to people that hold ideals, integrity and an unflinching passion for a service to the Nation.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Happy Democracy day.

Ezinne Arua