Nigeria’s Democracy Differs from America’s – Hon. Okoye
Nigeria’s Democratic Practice is way off American Style — Rep Gabe Okoye
By Catherine Ifeoma Samfelix
Representative Gabe Okoye is a Nigerian-American politician who got involved with the American politics during the “Obama Era”. He got elected into the Georgia State House of Representatives in 2022, where he currently represents the 102nd District, which covers parts of Lawrenceville Grayson, and Dracula, GA. He bares his mind on Nigeria’s democratic practices.
Hon. Okoye was a one-time governorship aspirant in Anambra state under PDP in 2003. Recounting his experience during the period, he described it as mere selection despite the fact that election was conducted. Rep. Gabe describes the entire Nigerian system as a ‘soured democracy’ because of its excessive corruption characterized by political manipulations.
In an encounter with this reporter, he tries to compare American democracy and that of Nigeria. He specifically regrets that while Nigeria claims to have adopted American democratic system of government, but along the line, it has been Nigerianized to suit the entrenched corruption.
He noted that Nigeria’s Democratic system differs from structure to practices, to the detriment of the citizens. He described American democracy as a system that works 100% based on the fact that the vote of the people count and no electoral body like INEC who conduct the election and influence the result. He said the House of Representative in the US serves only 2years tenure while Nigeria Rep is 4years. Then the election for House of senate is conducted by the general masses state-wise not by senatorial zones. Every elected leader works with focus on the basic salary, nothing like allowances, such as car allowance, wardrobe allowance, etc. There is nothing like Senate President, no senator is referred as Senate President and America has only two senators from each state. But Nigeria has 3.
Rep Gabe Okoye recalls some of his achievements as a representative of the State of Georgia. He particularly mentions a rare feat of sponsoring and getting a bill passed as a freshman in the minority party. According to him, the bill was popular because it aimed at stopping the ugly incidents of fraudsters selling innocent people’s homes without their knowledge, which many senior citizens had fallen victim to the fraud.
He emphasized that in the American politics, freedom of speech is fully practiced while Nigeria stifles individuals – people are afraid at some point to express themselves. The winning of elections in Nigeria is basically on the god-fatherism, not the choice of the people. “The truth is that there’s a wide gap between American politics and Nigerian politics or democracy” he affirmed. He concluded that it is only when decision is taken at all levels to curb corruption and allow the people’s vote to count, that we can expect a clean and working democracy in Nigeria.
