International Day of Democracy and the Reflection on "Undemocratized" Africa By Olaogun Michael Sunkanmi

Critically  examining Africa's democratic space since the immediate  post independence era, one could conclude that the taste of democracy was only felt by by Africans during the reigns of Africa's founding fathers who led the struggle for our liberation from the colonial masters, because it was clear that they had the people at heart  despite the oppositions they faced, however with exception to some. 

Years later, the leaders who took over reigns from the immediate post independence era have acted with no human sympathy, clear vision as envisaged by our founding fathers and some have been repeatedly accused of still playing the script of the colonial masters for self gains and to the detriment of their subjects,  as one not unmindful of those that are doing well to the best of their capacity.  

Decades after democracy is acclaimed to be system of government in Africa, it is unfortunate that our democracy is still heavily characterised by: 

Militaristic Tendencies, 

Lack of Press Freedom, 

Human Rights Violations, 

Constitutional Manipulation, 

Disobedience to Court Orders, 

Lack of Free and Fair Elections,

Lack of people oriented policies, 

Oppressive Nature to Opposition, 

And so on... 

When shall this evil change? 

Our docile nature as Africans in our democracy has further promoted the aforementioned. 

It is the duty of we citizens to continue to render our opinion, condemning the ugly trends in our democracy for the gains of all.

Otherwise, we shall all continue to suffer the grave consequences from "leaders" who don't care about us. 

Democracy as a system of government is nothing when the element of people is out of it. 

Isn't it to long to get it right in over four decades? 

Africans wake up! 

Olaogun Michael, a creative thinker wrote from Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. 

michaelolaogun2014@gmail.com