The greatest irony of democracy is that those who taunt it often constitute its greatest abusers. This tendency and more fed the pessimism of Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle who condemned democracy and predicted its collapse.

In all, the negative influences of the Western superpowers, especially America, France and Britain, on the democratic journey of African countries which the West manipulates for its selfish gains support the fears of the Greek philosophers. Nigerian music activist, Fela Kuti, in one of his songs entitled “Demo crazy”, dismissed democracy as mere “demonstration of craze” and “baba nla” (big) nonsense where people do not vote and yet, the election umpires credit “big big numbers” to contestants. In Africa, democracy has been terribly skewed against normality such that despots and neocolonial stooges are foisted on the people at national and sub-national leadership cadres. This explains the extreme scarcity of democratic principles, dispositions and conducts within African democracies; hence the growing repudiation of democracy which is gathering momentum in the Sahel region.

Notwithstanding the seeming allure of benevolent juntas as presently witnessed in Burkina Faso under Captain Traore, one cannot help agreeing with Chief Bola Ige – the Cicero of Esa Oke – who insisted that democracy in its worst form is better than the best military junta. My preference for democracy is hinged purely on the availability of checks and balances and periodic leadership review opportunities presented by elections.

At this juncture, this piece seeks to present a calm, frank, committed and unassuming Nigerian democrat who has introduced autochthonous democracy in Nigeria and continued constant fertilization of the democratic soil to enable democracy not just grow, but flourish. This giant of democracy is the governor of Ebonyi State, Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. Having joined politics from the democratic front of political party administration, Nwifuru became a state legislator in 2011 and served as speaker of Ebonyi State legislature between 2015 and 2023 before winning the governorship election in 2023. The legislature is both the traditional fountain of democracy and the arm of government that indicates democracy. Nwifuru’s legislative background and frank nature imbued him with unequaled commitment to democracy; and his election into the coveted position of Ebonyi governor offered him the opportunity to demonstrate it.

For starters, when the heatwave of hunger and hardship arising from the forceful withdrawal of fuel subsidy swept across Nigeria, Governor Nwifuru put democracy at the service of Ebonyi people by rolling out enduring welfare programmes among which were premium business grants to SME, tax waivers on agri-products, lifting of embargo on employment and payment of 30-year old arrears of gratuities to Ebonyi workers. Consequently, Ebonyi was the only state in Nigeria that did not witness the hunger protests.

Under Governor Francis Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs administration, all government projects and programmes are derived from the verified needs of the ordinary citizens of Ebonyi State. For instance, the tech and innovation gap in Ebonyi State led Nwifuru into establishing two functional specialized universities. These are Ebonyi State University of ICT, Agbaja and Ebonyi State University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, Onueke. To improve self-development among Ebonyi youths, Governor Nwifuru launched an Overseas/Local Universities Postgraduate Scholarship programme. Through this programme, Ebonyi youths have continued to distinguish themselves in global intellectual and tech competitions.

The yawning disparity in development between rural and urban centres, made Nwifuru to launch a comprehensive concrete road revolution programme with a bias that has apparently continued to favour Ebonyi hinterlands. The Abakaliki urban road renewal project, Okwor Ngbo – Nkalagu road, the Staidium – Nwofe road, the Ezzilo – Ezzaegu road; the Mater Misericordiae Hospital road and other major road projects across the state have eased transportation and reduced rural-urban migration to the barest minimum in Ebonyi State.

In 2023, one of the greatest needs of Ebonyi people was peace and unity. Nwifuru’s Ebonyi People’s Charter of Needs administration inherited a deeply fragmented state fraught with communal wars, traditional stool conflicts and town union leadership crises. Only 67 communities representing 48 % of the communities in Ebonyi State had traditional rulers. Governor Nwifuru turned the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters led by Hon. Uchenna Igwe into an instrument of peace. Fifteen new communities have been created by the governor. This was followed by full democratization of both the traditional stool and town union leadership recruitment processes, moving them away from imposition and crisis. Today, traditional rulers and town union leaders have been successfully elected and inaugurated in over 80 communities bringing the total to 147. These communities sit together in peace, rebuilding trust and focusing on shared growth.

It is heartwarming to note that Governor Nwifuru granted financial autonomy to the local government areas in Ebonyi State for over a year before the Supreme Court ruling of July 11, 2024. Nwifuru equally democratized the local government system in Ebonyi State. On September 1, 2026, a new set of democratically-elected council chairmen were inaugurated. Under Governor Francis Nwifuru, Ebonyi State has become not just the most secure and peaceful state in Nigeria, but also a wholesome democratic space.

From the foregoing, Builder Francis Nwifuru is the unsung hero of autochthonous Nigerian democracy while Ebonyi State is its cradle. The effervescent joy and comportment of Ebonyians summarily prove the functionality of this brand of democracy; and it beckons on the rest of Nigeria, nay African continent.