Abraham Lincoln defined DEMOCRACY to mean the government of the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE, and for the PEOPLE.
If a government was not elected by the PEOPLE, it can never be a government of the PEOPLE, nor will it be for the PEOPLE.
It is important that in every election, FREENESS and FAIRNESS are allowed. The people should be allowed to elect their leaders - good or bad. If the leader is bad, the people will have the opportunity to elect someone else in the next election. However, when a few powerful people subvert the process and buy votes to get to office, it can never be a democracy. Those who get into office through this means will never act in accordance with the laws that guide their office and they will abuse the power of the office with impunity because they know there is no accountability. They can always take the back door to get back to the office anytime they want.
Those trivializing the importance of free and fair elections should know they are supporting tyranny, dictatorship, and corruption at the highest level. No community or nation that allows such can grow nor can they experience prosperity. A government that is not elected by the people cannot serve the people, they will only serve their own interests and those of other powerful forces that keep in power.
I just came back from Nigeria . I traversed the length and breadth of the nation a bit in my three-week stay. Something is different about the country compared to when I visited last year.... The people are more desperate... Hunger has increased astronomically.... The gap between the haves and have-nots has further widened... You feel impunity in the air... You see police collecting bribes openly like we have not seen since the Shagari era in 1983... There are more law enforcement agents on the roads now, yet the crime rate has not abated... You see VIO , Road Safety, State Law enforcers, the Police, everywhere mounting illegal roadblocks... I heard things from those close to the seat of power about those who hold the reins of power, and I weep for Nigeria - it is beyond disheartening... Projects are being abandoned because a significant portion has been given as bribes to government officials like governors and ministers, including major monarchs - they all collect money for projects...
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