"National Assembly Proved That Nigeria Lacks Democracy"-H.E Peter Obi,
Labour Party Presidential Candidate In 2023 Election in Nigeria .Photo: Google.
Mr Peter Obi who was the former Presidential candidate for the Labour Party in Nigeria has criticised the approval and endorsement of the recent state of emergency declared in Nigeria's Oil Rich Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which suspended the elected Governor and legislators and replaced them with a Military administrator in a supposedly democratic government. In a very strong statement, H.E. Peter Obi said this singular vote clearly demonstrated that democracy, in its true sense does not exist in Nigeria and blamed lack of proper opposition in the country's democractic experiments. In his words, 'functional opposition is lacking and democracy cannot thrive in a such clime'. He emphasized that opposition is a critical pillar of any democratic system because it ensures that the right things are done, holds the ruling party accountable and offers alternative viewpoints. However, he noted that an effective opposition can only exist within a system that supports proportional representation- an approach practiced in countries like South Africa and Indonesia.
In Nigeria our Senate which comprises 109 seats would be more reflective of electoral realities with APC ruling party holding 44 seats, the opposition PDP holding 33 seats and the Labour Party 27 seats. Ideally the House of Representatives should mirror this balance with approximately 144- APC party members, 108- PDP members and 90- Labour Party members. But this is far from the case. He concluded that the absence of laws restricting party defection allows politicians to freely switch allegiances without consequence. This not only weakens the opposition but also makes a mockery of the electorate's will and undermines the intergrity of our democratic institutions.]According to H.E Peter Obi. 'what is left is not a genuine democratic system but one that is transactional. compromised, and in many respects, resembles organised criminality'. Unless Nigeria urgently implements essential reforms to entrench true democratic principle, enforce party discipline, and ensure fair representation, the country's democracy will remain fragile and dysfunctional.
Other Opposition Political leaders in Nigeria have also condemned the Emergency Rule Declaration in the Oil- Rich Rivers State and called on the government to reverse the suspension of the elected Governor and the legislators. However, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's special Adviser on Information and Strategy dismissed the opposition figures as distraction, accused them of prioritising personal ambitions over national progress and describing them as "disgruntled and sore losers frustrated by their defeat in the 2023 election"s. In his words; President Tinubu is focused on governance to build a prosperous country and he is on the way to achieving it. They are not Politicians after the Public Good. It's all about their selfish-interests, they are disgruntled. The Government Spokesman emphasized that the president has achieved a lot with just two-months to his term with many solid achievements to showcase amidst intractable problems which are being tackled headlong.
Read The LEAD Project Foundation's blog often to be properly informed about significant events and changes in Nigeria's Political landscape. The State narratives always dominate the headlines, the focus should be to get ordinary people properly informed. Democracy requires plurality of opinions to deliver its ultimate goal of freedom.
Uche Okeke is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.
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