Former Aviation Minister and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Osita Chidoka, has issued a stark warning on the state of Nigeria’s democracy, declaring that the nation is trapped not by voter apathy but by what he described as a “conversion crisis” that continues to erode meaningful civic participation.
Delivering the 2nd Distinguished Personality Lecture at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Chidoka argued that while millions of Nigerians intend to vote, systemic barriers discourage them from following through, turning civic engagement into what he called an “expensive burden.”
He also noted that 68 million out of 93.4 million registered voters failed to vote in the 2023 presidential election, with turnout plunging to 26.7 percent — a sharp decline from 53.7 percent in 2011. According to him, the issue lies not in public disinterest but in the structural inefficiencies and uncertainties surrounding the electoral process.
Beyond elections, Chidoka painted a grim picture of legislative transparency across the country. Referencing research by the Athena Centre, he revealed that only 39 percent of Nigeria’s State Houses of Assembly maintain verified websites, just 11 percent operate YouTube channels, and none publish official legislative records such as Hansards or Votes and Proceedings online. The result, he said, is a governance system that operates largely out of public view.
To drive the shift from excuses to action, Chidoka introduced the philosophy of “Mekaria,” an African framework for institutional and societal improvement. Rooted in a blend of cultural values — integrity, humanity, and industry — Mekaria emphasises disciplined action through its operational model: Measure, Monitor, Improve (M²I).
Chidoka challenged students and institutions to adopt a culture of measurable performance by consistently asking three critical questions: What are we measuring? How do we know we are succeeding? And what will change if we fail?
In his remarks, ESUT Vice-Chancellor, Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, praised the lecture as timely and thought-provoking, noting that the Distinguished Personality Lecture Series aims to bridge the gap between academic discourse and practical governance.
Michael Olugbode
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