Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi has stated that Nigeria’s democracy has deteriorated into what could be classified as a classical state capture.
Obi said that the leadership failures that have resulted in
uncontrolled systemic corruption, high levels of insecurity, lack of freedom of
speech, increasing poverty rates, and unprecedented levels of hunger and
hardship, are consequences of the country not being a true democracy.
In a statement on his X handle on Wednesday, the former
Anambra State Governor suggested that true democracy should be people-oriented,
where the rights of citizens are respected and the laws are obeyed, while the
leaders remain accountable to the people’s welfare and care.
He said: “As our dear nation marks Democracy Day today, commemorating 25 years of striving to be a democratic country, the fundamental question for all of us remains: Are we truly democratic?
“An unexamined life is not worth living, so it is now time
to re-examine what we have been doing over this quarter of a century.
Democracy, as we know, is the government of the people, by the people, and for
the people.
“While we may say that in 1999 we started in earnest in the
right direction, today we have deteriorated into what can be classified as
classical state capture. Instead of benefiting all, it has become a deprivation
to all.
“The consequences of not being a true democracy have led to
leadership failures that have resulted in uncontrolled systemic corruption,
high levels of insecurity, lack of freedom of speech, increasing poverty rates,
and unprecedented levels of hunger and hardship, which remain unsolved and are
growing geometrically.
“True democracy should be people-oriented, where the rights
of citizens are respected, the laws are obeyed, the leaders remain accountable
to the people, and people’s welfare and care, especially for the poor, become
paramount and high priorities. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case in our
situation. To further illustrate that we are not truly democratic and have only
produced the vices enumerated above, we are now ranked as follows:
“In the measurement of democracy, we have a democracy index
score of 4.23, which ranks us low on the Global Democracy Index. In the
Corruption Perception Index, we are ranked 145th among the 180 countries
measured, showing a high level of corruption in Nigeria. In the Rule of Law
Measurement, we are ranked 120th out of 142 countries measured in the World
Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, indicating that Nigeria suffers from
gross disobedience to the rule of law.
“The 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without
Borders (RSF) describes Nigeria as one of West Africa’s most dangerous and
difficult countries for journalists.”
“Nigeria ranks 112th out of 180 countries where journalists
are regularly monitored, attacked, and arbitrarily arrested. We are ranked
109th out of 125 countries measured on the Global Hunger Index.
“Let us, therefore, use the commemoration of June 12 as an
occasion to return to a truly democratic nation. We achieved that feat on June
12, 1993, by collectively voting for democracy in Nigeria. We must stand in
defense of Nigeria’s democracy today.
“I urge everyone to respect and protect the institutions of
the democratic state, obey the governing laws of the state, be accountable to
the people, and fulfill the responsibilities of responsible governance as
contained in the constitution.”
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