Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2023, has questioned what it means for Nigerians to celebrate democracy.
He stated that concerns about state capture should be addressed rather than commemorating democracy.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Peter Obi made this statement as Nigeria commemorates 25 years of uninterrupted democracy during Bola Tinubu’s first year in government.
Presidential Election Tribunal Threatened By Tinubu in Democracy Day Speech – Lawyer
Obi said, “Are we truly Democratic? An unexamined life is not worth living. The fundamental question to ask is whether we are truly democratic. We must, at every step, try to examine what we have been doing. After 25 years of trying to be a democratic country, it is time to ask if we are truly democratic.
“Democracy is supposed to be the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. So the question to ask is: are we a government of the people, by the people, and for the people?
“Beneath this is supposed to be a benefit for people, and such benefits are not there, but the opposite is what we see. There are leadership failures. There is massive hunger, insecurity, and suffering.
“What we should actually be celebrating is a sort of state Capture, where those who have captured it have cornered all the benefits made for people.
June 12: Nigeria Celebrates National Day Of Democracy
“What people are supposed to see in terms of good education, good health, and pulling them out of poverty has been cornered by few that have captured the system, and they continued at the expense of all.”
Obi underlined the necessity of restructuring in order to successfully address such issues. His words have spurred national dialogue about the essential elements of democracy and the urgent need for change.
“There are things we need to re-examine and ask how to set them right for our future generation,” he added.
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.