The commentary below is one of hundreds of contributions to "Nigeria, What Next?", allAfrica.com's debate on the best way forward for Africa's most populous nation after April '03's contested election.

The opposition parties have jointly and separately rejected the result of the polls and some have even gone to the extent of calling for a mass movement to protest against the result. However, what the opposition have failed to realise is that there is no such appetite or hunger on the streets of Nigeria.

The man on the street sees nothing to fight for. He has been used and dumped with no credit paid to him for his effort at enthroning democracy. He fought the uniformed oppressors sacrificing his comfort, material possession, blood and life and yearned for democracy because he was made to believe that democracy is the final solution to all his political, socio-economic problems. But what did he get at the end? Hunger, starvation, deprivation, unemployment, arson, tears, sorrow, blood ...His efforts were not even acknowledged.

Those who are immortalised as martyrs of democracy and celebrated as heroes of democracy are the Abiolas,the Tinubus and co, No one remembers the Taofik [a past contributor to the debate) and Dickson Chukwu of the struggle. Now the common man on the street is so brutalised, so dehumanised that he has no verve left in him to put up any fight just because someone promised a better deal.

Agreed the election was most fraudulent and far from being free and fair, I would advise the politicians to leave the common man out of this. They should fellow the constitutionally laid down procedure for seeking redress. But in whatever action they take, they must put the interest of the nation at heart and work towards maintaining peace and harmony in the land.

Dickson Chukwu, Ajegunle, Lagos, Nigeria

27 Apr 2003