Democracy not to blame for underdevelopment, leadership and weak institutions are — Mojeed Alabi

Former Osun State House of Assembly Speaker and ex-member of the House of Representatives, Mojeed Alabi, has rejected the idea that Nigeria’s democratic system is responsible for the country’s developmental setbacks.

He said leadership failures and weak institutions, not democracy itself, remain the core obstacles to national progress.

Speaking Friday on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM Ilesa-Ijebu, Ogun State, Alabi insisted: “Democracy can never be, has never been, and will never be a factor for underdevelopment.”

–Democracy as a process, not an event–

Alabi argued that democracy, by design, empowers citizens through participation, accountability and choice of governance. He said Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted civil rule since 1999 should be assessed as an “emerging democracy” still being built, not as a finished product.

“Democracy is not a one-off thing. It is a process that has to be nurtured, built over years and consolidated before we reach the stage advanced democracies are at today. The language I prefer is to say we are in an emerging democracy,” he stated.

–Dividends of democracy still missing–

While defending the system, Alabi admitted Nigerians have not felt its benefits. He referenced President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day remarks acknowledging that democracy had not delivered the dividends citizens expected.

“That was an admittance that government cannot rest on its oars, an admittance that we are not yet in our Jerusalem, an admittance that we are still on the journey toward consolidation,” Alabi said.

He warned that electoral continuity alone does not equal democratic consolidation if poverty, insecurity and poor institutional performance persist.

–Linking poverty to insecurity–

Alabi said the spread of banditry, armed robbery and Boko Haram violence cannot be separated from economic hardship. He argued that democracy’s failure to meaningfully uplift ordinary Nigerians has created conditions that fuel crime.

“In the midst of poverty, people resort to things that compound our problems. Anyone who has a better way of living will not think of banditry or making money outside the norm,” he said.

–Call for shared sacrifice and equity–

He said reforms and tough economic policies may be necessary for long-term stability, but they must be paired with deliberate interventions to cushion citizens in the short term.

Alabi stressed that equity must define governance. “We cannot have people in government living large while asking average Nigerians to tighten their belts. If sacrifices are needed for a better future, belt-tightening must revolve around all of us — whether you are in government, in the ruling party or in the opposition,” he said.

–Ramifications for Nigeria’s democratic debate–

1. Reframing the blame: Alabi’s position shifts focus from “democracy has failed” to “leadership and institutions have underperformed,” pushing reform conversations toward accountability and capacity-building rather than system change.
2. Policy urgency: By linking poverty to insecurity, he strengthens the case for economic empowerment and social protection as security strategies, not just military responses.
3. Credibility test: His call for shared sacrifice by public office holders speaks to a central public grievance. How government officials model restraint will shape public buy-in for future reforms.
4. Consolidation roadmap: Describing Nigeria as “emerging” sets expectations: 27 years is early in democratic terms. The challenge now is strengthening institutions — judiciary, legislature, electoral bodies — so democracy delivers measurable improvements in living standards.

Alabi’s intervention adds to ongoing national conversations around June 12/Democracy Day about how to make Nigeria’s democratic system work for citizens beyond elections.