Democracy traces its etymology to the Greek word dēmokratía, which translates in English as rule by the people. The key words in this definition are rule and people. At the center of the ruling process in a democratic state is the power of the people to decide how they are governed and who their leaders or representatives should be….

Law and order create the enabling environment for the political, social and economic life of a society. Respect for the rule of law is a key pillar of democracy. No one is above the law, and everyone is obligated to respect the law. The courts decide disputes and people accept and live with judicial decisions, and move on. The collective acceptance of living by the rule of law assures peace, stability and functioning of the society…

As we see above, democracy operates on a logic that a people will vote among themselves a number of representatives who will actualize their collective interests and dreams. More than any other principle, election represents the major cornerstone of democracy and is the major vehicle of a democratic practice. While the electoral principle of democracy is in place in Nigeria, it is poorly operated and in danger of being completely annihilated…

Diversity speaks to a plethora of positive “differences” including ethnic, tribal or national origins; religious beliefs and practices; gender; sexual orientation; cultural practices; political views; social and economic class. Tolerance means that people accommodate and peacefully coexist with others who are “different”. Inclusion is the idea and practice of respecting each other, bringing people together to solve problems, and letting them participate in, and contribute to the collective life of the society…

Giving or receiving bribes, the abuse of power, or use of public office or resource for personal gain is a chief enemy of democracy because it enthrones personal interest at the expense of the collective interest and will of the people. It is critically important to encourage and build strong and informed electorates and institutions that would safeguard democratic values, resist the rule of “persons”, and totally expose and discourage public corruption…

Elie Wiesel is credited with one of the most memorable quotes about protest. His words: “There may be times when we are powerless against injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest it.” What Wiesel’s statement points to here is the moral justification that defines protests against any form of injustice. In many ways, it could also have been this ethical dimension to protesting against injustice that has facilitated its legislative enshrinement in many national constitutions across the world…

In every democracy, a free press constitutes a major force through which transparency (a major principle of democracy) is facilitated. Since elected representatives at all levels might not be able to reach out to those that they represent individually, the media function as a bridge that allows for an unbroken communication between the electorate and their representatives. In Nigeria…

All of the foregoing points and more require active civic participation on the part of the public. It is eminently important that citizens know how their government works and how public funds are generated and spent so they can hold their government accountable at the local, state and national levels…

The value and benefits of democracy must be highlighted by drawing upon the experiences of western advanced democracies whose practice of democracy continues to yield great benefits for their people