Government of the rich

it is imperative that this division of status is available as nature itself has separated us and placed us on different footing for one cannot function without the other. We cannot all be equal in status (even in a communal system of Government) as that would affect the balance of the universe.There are certain privileged […]

it is imperative that this division of status is available as nature itself has separated us and placed us on different footing for one cannot function without the other. We cannot all be equal in status (even in a communal system of Government) as that would affect the balance of the universe.
There are certain privileged people on earth who are born rich and others who are poor, some are strong and others are weak. It is due to this inalienable difference in status and for the prevention of chaos and oppression that the Rule of law exists, to ensure that no one irrespective of status or wealthy acquisition is above the law and that everyone should be treated equally before the law.
Abraham Lincoln was well aware of this division of status when he defined democracy to mean Government of the people, by the people and for the people. In other civilised world where the system is working, there still exist these difference in class and yet the poor still gets justice from the judiciary without fear of intimidation, the weak can still enforce their right against any person in authority irrespective of office.
Opportunities are provided for by the government to avail hardworking citizens get the reward of their labour, there are job vacancies for every level of academic qualification that you possess, and while you still admire the affluent and luxury lifestyle of the rich you can still afford basic necessities like an apartment, car, feeding, student loan et al without having to beg the street.
But in Nigeria like everything else, the reverse is the case; our democracy is Government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich. This writer was in court one day when an accused person, who has spent over two years awaiting trial in prison custody, was brought to a magistrate’s court and the prosecutor said he is still awaiting advice from the ministry of justice after two years, this event is what informed the writing of this article. Would this be possible if the accused was the son of a Nigerian with large bank accounts? Why is the Law in Nigeria choosing who to protect based on status? Of what use then is the rule of Law if it cannot be upheld?
It is a thing of sadness that the majority of Nigerians who are supposed to play a major role in the way our Government is run are so irrelevant that our opinions don’t count. The essence of democracy is majority having their way but in Nigeria the minority of the elite class are the decider, and this is so either because Nigerians only complain without action or when they act, they forsake their free will and do the will of the person with the bigger purse.
Nigeria is a great country blessed with both human and natural resources but we are the way we are because the peanuts shared by the political class satisfies us that we do not demand quality service from our representatives, the reward of which is more appealing. Nigerians cannot afford to take a flight from Abuja – Lagos to avoid the death traps called road because it is too expensive, many Nigerian youths from poor background after graduating from university are roaming the streets idle without hope of any meaningful job employment, students who cannot afford to go to Private universities or overseas for their tertiary education are the ones feeling the brunt of ASUU strike.
This is not the dream of our founding fathers; both the government and the governed have contributed one way or the other to the current dilapidated state of this once great nation. The people on the one hand are ignorant of the power they yield in their hand and thus use it carelessly without thought while the government capitalises on the lackadaisical behaviour of the people to do what it pleases.
We must stop hiding under the excuse that our democracy is young and continue to plunge this great nation further into plutocracy for the sake of the children yet unborn, we must wake from our slumber and require that which is rightfully ours ‘effective service delivery from our representative’.

Bulusson wrote from Kaduna <[email protected]>;