Democracy in Africa: Have we got our priorities right?

In 1914 when Lord Luggard "amalgamated" the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria with its northern neighbor to form what we now know as Nigeria, the British administrators immediately discovered that the system of local government that they found was not so different from the government of the people by the people and for the people. They took advantage of this structure and this enabled them to rule Nigeria for forty-six years with the minimum number of administrative officers from White Hall. Today, under the cloak of independence, we have dismantled this workable system in favor of models of democracy that flourish in London, Paris and Washington. What we have forgotten is that for this "Western-style" democracy to function properly, you need a population that has certain properties. Among these are: a population that understands that those that seek public office are going to SERVE their people not be their MASTERS and a population that  understands the essence of "public service"-- that you do not seek for elective office because you want to become rich. Education and the deliberate development of a people with "love of country" ensure that this population is in place to make "Western-style" democracy work. When a member of Parliament in Kenya earns more than USD12,000 a month as tax-free salary, would it surprise anyone to see that losing an election is not an option? The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would make Benjamin Franklin smile in his grave. Except that while coming to Washington means that you have to find your own accommodation and means of transportation to Capitol Hill, being a parliamentarian in Nigeria means that you do not simply  earn a tax-free salary, you are supplied with accommodation and means of transportation among other perks. You are even paid a "constituency allowance" even though no one ascertains that you have a constituency office. If you are running for office, you never have to tell the people what you are going to do for them if and when you are elected. You are running for office because you have been "selected" by your party to run for the office. I am certain that I have only touched the tip of the iceberg. Is it any wonder that people are ready to die in order to be in elective office? What is worse is that because the so-called electorate is made up of uneducated and hence unemployable youths, it is fairly easy to woo them to go out on the streets not only to scare the opposition but also to cause havoc should "their candidate" lose the elections.
I love the government of the people by the people and for the people. But when I see that countries such as Singapore that initially concentrated on the development of the human capital before putting emphasis on "free, fair and credible" elections have become Africa's "donors", I wonder if we here in Africa have got our priorities right!