A PHILOSOPHICAL EVALUATION OF THE NEXUS BETWEEN POVERTY OF GOVERNANCE AND VOTER APATHY IN NIGERIA
Abstract
Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999 after several years of military rule with great expectations. Several resources were invested in the democratic project and some of the material resources were sourced from foreign nations who assured us of the great benefits of democratic rule. The democratic dispensation came with a lot of hope and enthusiasm. It marked a new dawn as several activists and patriotic Nigerians paid great price to wrest power from the military. Political thinkers have also portrayed democracy as the government of the people by the people and for the people. Available statistics as well as the attitudinal response of Nigerians to what ought to be their democracy has continually declined to the point that politicians now pay people, not only to attend political rallies, but to vote as well. This paper interrogates both the poverty of governance and voter apathy in Nigeria and seeks to establish the relationship between them. It again, evaluates the implications of poor governance and voter apathy in a democracy and suggests ways to remedy the declining interest of most Nigerians in the democratic process.
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