Nigeria has operated a Western-style democratic system that has sadly failed. The adversarial, winner-takes-all mannequin has divided us. Regardless of greater than 20 years of democratic expertise, Western-styled democracy has not delivered stability, growth, or nationwide cohesion that Nigerians desperately want.

The failure of imported democracy

The Western democratic mannequin has faltered in Nigeria for a number of essential causes. Its adversarial nature has intensified divisions. It has enabled systemic corruption and elite seize of state establishments. Electoral processes are incessantly marred by violence and irregularities. Judicial independence is way from excellent. Opposition events are completely weak. The criticism about an impending one celebration “state” is because of extraordinarily disorganized opposition.

Nigeria has oscillated between authoritarian, semi-authoritarian, intolerant, and has by no means reached liberal democracy.

The financial dimension

Democratic failure in Nigeria is linked to our adopted Western capitalist mannequin, the place returns on political capital vastly outweighs returns on growth. The Nigerian economic system may be very extractive. There’s merely no incentive for real growth. Useful resource management yields higher rewards than productive enterprise. For significant growth to happen, the return on growth should exceed the return on political rewards. The political mannequin of the West, pushed by capital accumulation is most unhelpful.

Time for a brand new democratic mannequin?

I consider it’s time to develop a brand new democratic mannequin that pulls on indigenous governance traditions. Our numerous sociopolitical construction calls for a extra context-sensitive strategy that deepens native autonomy whereas encouraging inclusive nationwide power-sharing.

I suggest we think about a number of different frameworks that may work higher?

Cooperative federalism

Cooperative federalism may present immense advantages whereas we work in direction of complete restructuring. This mannequin permits states and the federal authorities to collaboratively develop infrastructure and pure assets, making use of the precept of subsidiarity to include governance closest to the individuals.

Take into account these untapped alternatives: Ondo State possesses one of many world’s richest bitumen deposits. Enugu has globally vital coal reserves. Ebonyi holds precious salt mines price roughly ₦14 billion. The North Central is awash with essential minerals, the Niger Delta is drowned in oil assets, and so forth.

By cooperative federalism, states may collaborate with the federal authorities to harness these assets, in a win-win state of affairs that incentivizes growth.

Consociational democracy

Belgium, Switzerland, and Lebanon provide instructive examples of consociational democracy—a power-sharing mannequin particularly designed for deeply divided societies. Key options embody Grand Coalitions to make sure all main social teams have illustration in government governance; Mutual Veto defending minority pursuits from majority domination; Proportionality offering truthful illustration throughout parliament, public service, and funds allocation; and Segmental Autonomy permitting teams to handle their very own cultural, instructional, and spiritual affairs.

Nigeria already has some elements of consociational democracy – the Federal Character Precept, zoning, and rotational presidency, however these lack correct institutionalization.

The trail ahead

A reimagined Nigerian governance framework ought to retain nationwide unity on issues of frequent curiosity. However substantial energy ought to devolve to the areas. Most necessary, financial incentives that reward growth over extraction, have to be adopted.

The 1963 Republican Structure, which allowed areas to specific their distinctive identities whereas contributing to nationwide growth, gives precious classes. The South produced cocoa, the North groundnut, and the East palm oil—every area leveraging its comparative benefits.

Nigeria’s future lies not in blindly replicating Western fashions however in creatively adapting governance techniques that mirror our historic expertise, cultural variety, and developmental aspirations. The time for this reimagining is now. Out with the Western mannequin of democracy and capitalism!

.Agbakoba, SAN, Senior Accomplice, Olisa Agbakoba Authorized (OAL), writes from Lagos