“Democracy dies in darkness.” I thought about those words this week as I walked past The Washington Post headquarters on K Street in northwest, downtown Washington D.C. Some phrases become so familiar that they risk fading into the background. Then a particular moment restores their weight, reminding us that they were never merely a newspaper’s motto — they were a warning.
Nigeria’s democracy is eroding. It is eroding quietly and gradually. Almost imperceptibly. Our democracy is eroding one frivolous lawsuit at a time. Democracies rarely collapse in a single dramatic moment. It starts with obstructions to the execution of the laws. It starts when politicians and their lawyers purposely overload the judicial system with baseless claims, disrespecting the authority of the court and compliance with its governing laws.
Every hour a Nigerian judge spends untangling a political vanity project is an hour stolen from someone else. This isn’t merely a waste of time. It is theft. It is the theft of justice from those who actually need it. It is stolen from the widow waiting for justice. From the entrepreneur trapped in a commercial dispute. From the investor waiting for legal certainty before committing capital. From the citizen who believes the courtroom is the last refuge of fairness.
