ADC open letter to Nigerians got me thinking about our democracy

So the African Democratic Congress (ADC) released an open letter today for Democracy Day and Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi their publicity secretary did not hold back. He asked three simple questions: Is your life better than before? Do you feel safer? Do you trust the government more? For most of us in Kano and across the North the answer is a painful no.

The part that hit me hard was when he described life in Nigeria as Hobbesian reality nasty brutish and short. That is not opposition talk that is just the truth we live every day. Bandits negotiating ransoms openly schools shutting down mid-exams because parents are scared. ADC said government is getting weaker while criminals get stronger and I have not seen anyone argue against that.

But here is what I keep thinking about. ADC rejected the idea that this hardship is a necessary sacrifice for a better tomorrow. So if not sacrifice and if not this government then what exactly is the path forward? Be honest would you trust any Nigerian politician right now to fix this mess or have we just accepted that democracy in Nigeria means surviving until the next election?