27 Years of Democracy: Gains Recorded, Reforms Needed

A political economist, Mr. Adefolarin Olamilekan, has stated that Nigeria has enjoyed more democratic dividends in the last 27 years than during the military era, despite the economic hardship and insecurity confronting the country.

Mr. Olamilekan made the remark while speaking as a guest on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Kapital FM, during a discussion on the topic, “2026 Democracy Day: The Path to a Stronger Democracy.”
He described the June 12, 1993 election as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history, noting that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria but requires improvements in the electoral process.
Mr. Olamilekan praised democratic governance as a strong platform for growth and development and called for the implementation of economic policies that would improve the living conditions of ordinary citizens and put food on their tables.
The political economist also urged business owners and multinational companies to channel profits generated from their businesses into investments capable of creating more employment opportunities.
He stressed that for Nigeria’s democracy to achieve its desired objectives, leaders must adhere strictly to constitutional provisions and place public interest above personal ambitions.
Callers during the programme, Mr. Julius and Kabiru Babatunde, both from Abuja, attributed many of the country’s challenges to corruption and weak democratic institutions.