"Democracy does not guarantee success, it guarantees opportunity."

s I pondered the above statement made by Jesse Jackson on CNN News, it occurred to me that it was exactly the answer I needed to offer to critics some of who think that commentary on the internet about the unbridled tendency of Nigerian leaders to line their pockets rather than attend to the needs of the masses, was a mere waste of time. According to these critics, Nigerian leaders would not listen.

Since I started writing commentaries on NigeriaWorld web page about Nigeria's socio-politico-economic problems, I have received varied feedbacks from readers. Many feel that sustained but constructive criticism of the government through a medium as powerful and global as the Internet via NigeriaWorld would get the attention of our leaders. A small minority however feels that even though the writings make for good reading, they would make no impact because the Nigerian situation is far-gone and has no remedy. Yet others simply think that Nigerian leaders do not surf the Internet and so would certainly not see these commentaries, while others maintain that our leaders do not even listen to their advisers talk less of "armchair" critics like us in the Diaspora.

Regardless of what anyone thinks, we should all be cognizant of the singular fact that in the Nigerian political context, if nothing else, democracy guarantees us the right to speak our minds about the government without being incarcerated. It guarantees us the freedom to write what we feel about the government without being harassed; it guarantees us the right to become active participants in the governance of our nation. There is however no guarantee that if we write or speak, they would always read, listen or react accordingly; anyone who expects instant gratification, may be disappointed. Infact, my brother never fails to remind me of the famous quote attributed to Margaret Thatcher that "blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed"

It however baffles me immensely when people say, "it makes no sense to write or speak up, because our leaders would not listen." What do these pessimists propose as alternative? Do they believe that sitting back and swallowing phlegm in the name of decorum is a viable alternative? Sitting in our backyards and complaining in hushed tones about the hopelessness of the Nigerian situation and the cruel hand the military has dealt us will never give the issues the attention they need. That method is not only cowardly, but smacks of palpable ignorance of the essence of democracy. It is said that great ideas or noble causes oftentimes have died for lack of a champion. If we must keep the Nigerian government on its toes, if we must give them cogent reasons to turn a fresh and acceptable leaf in the governance of our nation, if we must sensitize them to the needs of Nigerians as a nation, we must all become willing and active participants in the crusade to steer the ship of nation to the proverbial promised land. We must become champions of this noble cause in our own rights.

We must stop this "I don't care" attitude because it is our somnolent reactions to the flagrant brandishment of ineptitude, corruption, avarice and unbridled greed in the Nigerian polity that has continued to stoke the fire of bad governance. May be if we spoke up strongly enough when successive military governments were taking turns to plunder our treasury, their ascension to power may have become stillborn. May be if we expressed our dissatisfaction a lot more on the pages of newspapers during their sustained stranglehold on power, the nation may have been rescued. Note that I said, "may be" and this is because, whatever we say, write or do, success is still not a guarantee; infact no matter what you do in life, success is not guaranteed, but you can by your actions, create opportunities that become potent stepping stones to success.

I hope no one thinks that I am not sensitive to the reasons why most Nigerians decided not to speak up against the military during their rampage when in true Machiavellian fashion, the military bludgeoned and bulldozed their ways into power, striking down any opposition by "any means necessary" and carting away everything we had in our treasury. I know that most people refrained from speaking out then because they feared for their lives; that is understandable! Even Babangida in all his glory is today afraid to go to Oputa panel according to his lawyer; he is afraid of mob justice. What an irony? What a twist of fate? To think that someone who seemed so fearless in his hey days and even racked up names like Maradona, from sycophants, is now afraid for his life is unfathomable. I however perfectly understand why most of us kept mum during the military era, but, Nigeria is now a democracy and so the fear of reprisals as a deterrent to objective criticism of the government, is no longer tenable. It is at best an excuse whose time has come and gone, yes, gone for good.

Also, with the transformation of the media and communications through techno-cyber revolution, the world has become a global village. An article posted on the Internet in one continent could be read instantaneously in another continent. Even if the government clamps down on the media in Nigeria, they cannot clamp down on the Internet. It will therefore amount to sheer dereliction of responsibility for anyone to sit back and expect the government to read their minds and do their bidding.

Several months ago, General Obasanjo was still hedging about publicly asking Babangida and his cohorts to go to Oputa panel. People started crying out that he was not practicing his doctrine of "no scared cows" on the issue. In an article I wrote for this column dubbed "What Obasanjo must do to restore the faith of the masses in his presidency"-http://nigeriaworld.com/columnist/uzokwe/072701.html, I prevailed on him to publicly call on Babangida and the rest to go to Oputa panel. As more people joined in the call and pressure mounted, Obasanjo publicly asked Babangida and others to go to Oputa panel.

Whether the president meant what he said or was just reacting to public outcry when he asked Babangida and others to "go to Oputa panel", he has publicly made the call and all eyes are now on Babangida and his counterparts to go to Oputa panel and answer their charges. For all we know, this matter will remain on the front burner of national political discourse and will not go away. It is even my opinion that should Babangida fail to appear, all the talk about his presidential aspirations will be balderdash, because it would become clear that he is really hiding something. This is a classic example of how sustained pressure through writings and oral expressions on issues of national interest, has kept matters alive.

Recall when Obasanjo snubbed the Nigerian soccer team? Writers went to work and every time one opened the pages of the dailies or the pages of NigeriaWorld web page, commentaries about Obasanjo's unacceptable behavior took center stage. Finally, Obasanjo realized that he could no longer ignore the seemingly endless outcry and during the Eagles' match against Ghana in Port Harcourt, he was their foremost cheerleader. What I came away with from the two episodes I just touched on is that Obasanjo seems to be somewhat receptive to constructive criticism and that is good for Nigeria. He probably knows that the art of compromise is the secret to political success.

We must endeavor to eschew the attitude of "why bother, they would not listen" for how can we succeed if we do not even try? Moreover, how would we justify our right to complain when our needs are not met, if we do not say what those needs are in the first place? It is better to speak up and be ignored rather than stay silent and yet expect miracles. Heed the advice of Jimmy Cliff "you can get it if you really want, but you must try�."

In advanced democracies, public opinion polls seem to shape every facet of the political agenda of leaders even though they would all deny it. They know that if they ignore popular wishes of the people expressed through opinion polls, they were doomed to start writing their political "nunc dimitis".

Nigeria's political context is very complex though; several factors that transcend performance affect the choice of our leaders. Until such a time that opinion polls become a factor in Nigerian political context, we must seize the opportunity provided by democracy, to continue to voice our dissatisfaction with the failings of our leaders through our writings. We must all stand up and be counted.

Writing is not even the only available avenue for advancing political viewpoints or inciting constructive change. Those with flare for politics should leverage their interests into the political arena; there, they can use their offices to help change abhorrent political practices and policies. They can also help forge viable political blue prints that would guide this great nation towards a perfectly realized democracy.

I was not surprised when Chimaroke Nnamani became the Governor of Enugu State. He was very politically inclined when we were at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. Now he can use his office and effect positive changes. The same goes for Jerry Ugokwe and Nnimo Bassey of the Nigerian legislature; though my seniors at the School of Architecture then, I could not help but notice that they both had political inclinations. I even recall that Jerry Ugokwe was the Students Union Secretary in 1977/78 during the "Ali must go" student uprising when the police shot Akintunde Ojo at Unilag. All these people have leveraged their political interests into the national arena where they can even effect bigger changes and so could we all. Many more Nigerians are beginning to travel back to Nigeria from the Diaspora to seek elective offices in an attempt to make a difference; this is praiseworthy. My only prayer is that these new breed of progressive politicians do not fall prey to the gangrenous decay that seem to strike people who get into Nigerian politics; some get in with good intentions but end up becoming even more corrupt than the "old timers"

Those with interests in writing should use their writing ability to incite constructive and lasting changes. Rudolph Okonkwo, M.O. Ene, Ibrahim Umaru, Capt. Ike Eweama, Steve Nwabuzor, Wale Adebanwi, Laolu Akande, Tonye David West, Reuben Abati, Nkwocha Afulezi, John Igbokwe, etc, all writers on the NigeriaWorld are individuals that are using their writing abilities to help keep issues of national interest on the front burner. I am very heartened by their diligence, selflessness and avowed determination to see a truly democratic Nigeria. I am sure that there are many more talented people who can make contributions too. I am equally grateful to the publisher of the NigeriaWorld, Chuck Odili who made this medium available. It is a patriotic move that should be hailed by all lovers of our country. That is what I call making a difference, that is what Nigeria needs.

I read a very revealing piece written by Uche Gwam on the human rights abuses that took place during the Abacha era. It is unbelievable what we have gone through as a nation. Chronicling what we have been through and putting it in a form that everyone can read and remember it, is a laudable national service because those who do not remember history are bound to repeat it.

Those that have organizational flare like the World Igbo Congress, Nigerian Leadership Foundation and others should use that medium also to incite constructive changes in Nigeria through communiqu� sent directly to our government.

Yet, there are many more ways to contribute towards the reconstruction of Nigeria. One does not have to be a writer, one does not have to be a publisher, nor does one even have to be a politician or a member of the World Igbo Congress. All that is needed is the willingness to stand up and be counted and all other things will fall in place.

No matter the means one is using to incite change, as long as it is legitimate, constructive, not subversive nor destabilizing to the government, it is acceptable in the eyes of God and man. Sitting idly by in a spectatorial fashion should never be an option. The only inference that our leaders draw from such lackadaisical attitude is that every thing is going fine and as soon as they feel that all is going well, they run off to London for their customary "Owambe" parties. We should not allow that to continue.

One thing that bothers me immensely though is that several elected office holders are already preparing for a second term run when they have not even delivered during their first terms. The temerity they have in so doing is borne out of the fact that "we the people" have not made it clear to them that they would not be re-elected if they failed to perform. If we clearly and specifically spell out to them the fact that their re-election is directly tied to their performance, they would be more worried by performance rather than amassing money for their re-election bid. They should be scrambling now to fulfill all unfulfilled campaign promises rather than be scrambling to raise more money for second term campaigns.

Finally, It is my hope that Obasanjo and other Nigerian leaders are wise enough to understand that you cannot continually discount the opinions of the masses; you can only do it for so long in a democracy before being pushed aside by the collective will of the people. If Nigerian politicians do not surf the Internet (as alleged by some people), they better start because valuable commentaries by individuals are published on NigeriaWorld daily. They would benefit immensely from those commentaries.