Democracy and Development: The Nigerian Experience (1999-2010)

Abstract

This article is a contribution to the debate on democracy and development. It examines the relationship between democracy and development, using a contextual analysis of the Nigerian democratic experience. The key concepts, democracy, and development were ventilated as to make for a better understanding. Democracy as practiced in Nigeria is denied of its life blood, that is the peoples’ right to vote. It is democracy without the people. The article therefore concluded that given the corrupt nature of our politicians, the manner and way in which power to govern is acquired, their recklessness and insensitivity every development effort will definitely fail and continue to fail. In the circumstance, the article considers people oriented government and the shunning of every corrupt practice as a highly useful and pivotal option.

LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 8(3), 280-291, 2011