Democracy and National Development in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper is a critical analysis of democratic practice in Nigeria. It identifies the disconnection between the electorates and the elected leaders as the major cause for the non-realization of the values of democracy in Nigeria. This disconnection results from the wrong interpretation of the concept of politics in the contemporary Nigerian society, which has also paved way for the wrong interpretation and practice of democracy as a political ideology. The paper argues that politics in the contemporary Nigeria is interpreted in the Machiavellian way thereby making politics not to achieve its true essence. For democracy to realize its values, the paper argues for the traditional conception of politics where the pursuit of public interest and social order is considered paramount to political practice.

Keywords: Democracy, Nigeria, Social Order, Development, Machiavelli