May 29th, 1999 is a day every Nigerian will not forget in a hurry. This is because it was on that day the last batch of Military hegemonistss finally retreated to their barracks, yielding power to the political class after over two decades in the saddle.
But most importantly, the date has also become a symbol of the victory in the protracted battle to wrest power from a military which held the nation of over two hundred and fifty million people hostage for close to three wasteful and agonising decades. on that date, hope was once more rekindled in the hearts of Nigerians that at least, the struggle of their heroes past, will not be in vein, and so in Abuja and all the State Capitals, guns boomed and the people rejoiced.
However, after six years opinions now vary regarding how well the enormous political goodwill and economic resources at the disposal of the inheritors of the departed military adventurists have been husbanded.
obviously, no one in his right senses would have expected the destruction and pillaging of the past twenty years to be repaired in six years, but it is not expecting too much by hoping that a solid political and economic foundation would have been the priority of the present administration whether at the state or federal levels. There is hardly any sign in many states. Rather, the polity and the people have been subjected to a bumpy ride in which the various levels of government have expended more energy in a contest for power. This situation has compelled many Nigerians to conclude that their country is yet to make the necessary transition into democratic governance. The extremists believe that the country has only substitued military dictatorship with a civilian dictatorship.
It needs no gain-saying the fact that withoutd political stability, there can be no economic stability because once the people are disgruntled about government policies and programmes, such policies are immediately doomed.
This is where some state governments including that of Abia have fared better. Governor Orji uzor Kalu has through his political acumen ensured that his subjects are fully integrated and rehabilitated through his avowed crusade for love, understanding, reconciliation and willingness to calm frayed nerves. This has expectedly translated into good road network, rehabilitation of schools and hospitals, free medical scheme, tuition free secondary school, electricity supply, water supply, work to learn programme and above all unrivalled performance in the field of sports, just to mention a few.
These are the type of foundation Nigerians would like to see at the National level.
So, as Nigerians celebrates another Democracy Day, it must be borne in mind that the greatest legacy the President Olusegun Obasanjo adminsitration will leave for posterity is a smooth transition from an old regime to a new one. If this is done, the march to an economic eldorado would have commenced.
