Nigeria, March 17 -- Nigeria's democracy, though enduring in form, continues to struggle in substance. Beneath the rituals of elections, campaigns, and constitutional order lies a deeper problem, one that is less discussed but far more corrosive: the culture of blind political followership. This is a culture where loyalty to individuals overrides commitment to principles, and where the so-called "dividends of democracy" enjoyed by a few quickly translate into loud calls for leadership continuity, regardless of whether the broader population is benefiting or not.

This phenomenon, popularly captured in the phrase "carry-go," is not new. It is a recurring feature of Nigeria's political landscape, cutting across regimes, ideologies, and gen...