Here is a paragraph explaining what this is all about.

This week, Nigeria will mark ten years of uninterrupted democratic rule. In 1999, the then Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over the reins of government to newly elected President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation has had its democracy severely tested in recent times.Earlier this month Nigerian soldiers fired shots and tear gas to disperse opposition demonstrators who vowed to challenge the result of elections in Ekiti State which were narrowly won by the governing People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The unrest was seen by many observers as Nigeria's biggest test since the 2007 federal election.

It's only two years until the the 2011 general election. Will Nigeria be able to emulate Ghana and South Africa and hold trouble a free poll?

In what areas is Nigeria making progress? If you're in Nigeria, how has your life has changed in the last ten years? Send us your views.

I would like to hear from people here as well.

In the mean time, here are a few of responses posted by people:

Nigeria's demoncracy is stagnant or in comatose. There is no internal democracy within the political parties because, it was not our core cultural value. Democracy is not enshrined in our education system. Hence, you can get what you do not teach at school, home and society. Meritocracy is totally strange to our system. The essence of politics in Nigeria is for individual enrichment against poverty & egocentrism due our inborn value systems. The way out is confederation! No more, No Less!!

Abdulwaheed Badmus, Gent, Belgium

Your answer can be viewed through the dual lens of the non-invitation of Nigeria to the G20 Summit earlier this year and US President Barack Obama's snub of Nigeria in preference for her smaller neighbour, Ghana, in his first African trip next month. There is no democracy in Nigeria besides corrupt civil rule. There is also no leadership. President Umaru Yar'Adua has taken Nigeria to new depths of electoral fraud with impunity; indolence, corruption, economic depression, and global invisibility

KEVIN ETTA, Dallas, United States

Nigeria has shown herself to be a BIG disgrace in the comity [sic] of Nations in Africa to class herself as practising democracy.Rather it has been carrying on (s)election as if that should be the order of the day .A situation where the ruling party boast that it will continue to rule for 100 years goes to show that the peoples votes does not matter becuse they know how to rig themself to power.
The only bacon of hope Nigerians have so far is the Judiciary which has been living up to expectations.

Godwin, Lagos

Nigeria has little or nothing to prove for a ten year self acclaimed democratic state. Obasanjo was installed by IBB and other nothern oligarchs just to console the yorubas on the denial of MKO as a presidet,andYa'ardua was solely appointed and installed by Obasanjo based on family relationship with Shehu Musa,so how does that reflect democracy.If we ordinary Nigerians don't have a say in who leads us, how can we have a say in how we are governed and how can we talk about democracy.It's pathetic

ANDY ATELI, London

Most unfortunately, the Nigerian democracy has made me to strongly and unequivocally believe the claim of the elite school of thought that democracy is a myth.
While the people become more desperate and impoverished, the political class continue to loot and milk our common heritage dry!

Ashipa James Olashupo, Abuja

Again there appear to be people saying the same thing. Why is it then, a few of us get mad when the obvious is pointed out? Anyway what are your views, and how would you grade Nigerian democracy?

Personally, I how I feel is already made known several times. I wonder if there is ever a way out of this vicious cycle? For how long can we endure this for as a nation? You know, the same old story of corruption, rich getting richer and the poor remaining poorer. There isn't accountability and the whole scenario just seem bleak to be honest. **Sigh**

Full transcript available here:

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6490&edition=1&ttl=20090524111921

Elz

Is this an understatement on your part - when u say graded by people all cross the world - do u mean Non Nigerians- cause according to your posting the grades were from Nigerians abroad.

The posting could be done by Non-Nigerians and Nigerians alike on the BBC website as provided by the poster. Perhaps, a lot of Non-Nigerians and people who do not have any stake in Nigeria have little or no motivation to post hence, most of the comments made are by Nigerians.

blacksta:

Elz

Is this an understatement on your part - when u say graded by people all cross the world - do u mean Non Nigerians- cause according to your posting the grades were from Nigerians abroad.

Not at all. The site is open for all to access and post their views. The selection I made are a few that caught my eye. The topic is still up for debate [at the time am making this post], so technically anyone from anywhere interested in African politics or so can make a comment.

The people who posted are Nigerians all around the world, and they can't spell and have no basic grasp of grammar.

strangleyo:

The people who posted are Nigerians all around the world, and they can't spell and have no basic grasp of grammar.

Yeah you know this because you know it all. And one more thing, keep attacking the messenger and not the issue at hand. Nice.

ElRazur:

Yeah you know this because you know it all. And one more thing, keep attacking the messenger and not the issue at hand. Nice.

We know the issue at hand. The issue at hand is a product of ourselves. We are our biggest enemy.

We are not people who are ready for a culture of meritocracy, hence, how can we have a democracy?

I am still amazed at how business is done in Nigeria. People are lazy, people expect handouts, and hence, when these same people rise to the top they don't change. Nigeria needs a cultural change. Politics is one part of it but hardly the whole picture.