A Quarter Century in Chains: How democracy betrayed Nigerian hope, by Tijjani Sarki Introduction Beyond Ballots: What Democracy Should Mean Democracy is more than ballots, campaigns, and rallies. It is a system rooted in justice, accountability, and the promise of better lives. It should guarantee civil liberties and ensure equitable economic opportunities for all. As we mark June 12 Nigeria’s Democracy Day, we must go beyond celebrating the fall of military rule in 1999. We must ask ourselves: Has democracy delivered? Has it improved the lives of ordinary Nigerians, or merely replaced...