Former U.S. president Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) defined Democracy as:
«Government of the people, by the people, for the people»
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But it seems to me that the political class in Africa finds it difficult to grasp the the full import of that definition. And in an attempt to bring the definition closer home through my magnifying lens, I have modified it to read thus:
''Democracy is Government of the people, by the people, WITH THE PEOPLE, for the people.''
In my opinion, ''Democracy.......WITH THE PEOPLE....'' is the missing link in the conscious effort to democratize Africa. The only time the people are considered relevant is during elections, and thereafter, the people become irrelevant. Almost all decisions by government are taken without recourse to public opinions, even when those decisions have direct impact on the people. The African political elites must understand that the future of DEMOCRACY in the Continent rest squarely in the supremacy of the collective WILL of the majority, even long after elections are over. Governments that are brought in by the people, and for the people, MUST govern WITH THE PEOPLE. The people must be able to lay claim to their government at any point in time. The collective WILL of the people is the Spirit of Democracy.
Andrew Adedayo Adetoye
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