In the broad sense, democracy means democratic government. According to Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a ‘Government of the people, by the people and for the people’.
By ‘Government of the people’ is generally meant spontaneous and natural allegiance of the people to the government. But according to Sweezy, “Government of the people is government which emanates from and forms an inseparable part of the people”. Government of the people is like saying 'planning for the people' and for you to plan for the people, you must plan with them, they must be a major component or stakeholder in your decision making inorder to know what they truly need. "You can't be providing transformer when what they need is water facilities"
Again, ‘Government by the people‘ implies people’s participation in running the government. Professor Seely defines democracy as a government in which everyone has a share. But due to a large population it is impossible for all to participate directly in the government. So, people rule the country indirectly through their elected representatives. Moreover, every individual of the country can never be regarded as eligible to take part in the government. Every country disallows lunatics, criminals, bankrupts and minors from participation on in the government. So, democracy means rule of the majority. It may be said after Dicey that a government may be called democratic if “Government body is a comparatively large fraction of the entire nation.” In the opinion of Bryce, though the authority is vested in the hands of all the people in a democratic government, in reality it turns out to be the rule of the majority.
‘Government for the people‘ stipulates that democratic government serves the interests of all sections of the people. Such a government does not work for the interests of any particular person, group or class. Promotion of the general welfare is the primary duty of such a government. This is the Beauty of democracy... Every citizens convenience should be our priority... They (Politicians) are also public workers serving the country in the same capacity as teachers, doctors, engineers, and every other people. They are not small Lord or God. Paying someone else salary, or coordinating affairs of the country does not make you different from the majority. Remember you're also getting paid. You're civil servant.
Over the years, we claim to be practicing democracy and yet the number of the oppressed keeps increasing drastically day by day; Heavy punishment is being inflicted on people for voicing out against impunity; innocent People got killed nearly everyday by insurgent groups and nothing practicable was presented to apprehend or stop them till this moment; herdsmen are brutally murdering innocent lives; Boko Haram (the group of mass murderers) are still out there walkkng freely without being apprehended; there is growing apprehension everywhere, people were no more safe. Are these what a good democratic leader should not prioritized???
*THE ACTUAL DEMOCRACY CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED;*
When we have a life in a safer cities
When leaders are proactive in identifying and preventing potential problems.
When we have leaders and not rulers
When we have leaders that the country with thrived under their leadership.
When we have leaders that posses skills and qualities and not certificates only.
When we have leaders who don't enjoy oppressing the citizens
Happy democracy day!
Abimbola Lolade
abimbolakonsult@gmail.com
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