Editors’ Conference 2026: After 27 years, why democracy still fails ordinary Nigerians — Onaiyekan

By Juliet Umeh
For 27 uninterrupted years, Nigerians have lived under elected governments. They have queued under scorching sun and rain to vote, watched presidents and governors come and go, and seen disputed elections move from polling units to courtrooms.
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Yet, for the ordinary Nigerian, John Cardinal Onaiyekan believes a fundamental question remains: Has democracy really put the people at the centre of governance?
At 82, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja has witnessed Nigeria’s journey through colonial rule, independence, military governments and civilian administrations. H...