SDP, ACF, Ohanaeze Pass Damning Verdicts on State of Democracy in Nigeria

huksOkocha in Abuja

The Social Democratic Party (SDP), Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Afenifere, OhanaezeNdigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum, yesterday, dissected the state of democracy under the current administration, and gave a damning verdict.

They raised dust over the country’s democratic institutions, including allegations of executive overreach, judicial interference, and marginalisation of local governance structures, concluding that democracy in Nigeria was endangered.

National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said the principles of democracy had continued to decline.

Muhammad-Baba, in a chat with a national daily, said, “The ACF welcomes the anniversary but regrets that Nigeria did not seem to be on a trajectory towards the entrenchment of democratic ideals as June 12 should have dictated.

“Systematically, those principles of democracy, such as free and fair elections, robust representation, checks and balances among the various branches of government, legislative independence and oversight, robust, independent judiciary and accountability have all been observed more in the breach than in compliance.

“This decline has been on the ground since 1999 but has worsened over the last four, and particularly over the last two years.”

Afenifere, in a statement by its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, said, “It is a milestone because it represented the day democracy and civil rule were reclaimed and restored in Nigeria, after a prolonged, destabilising military rule.

“Without a doubt, the sustained and uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999 is a product of the sacrifices and commitment of our heroes and heroines in the civil society groups, and other well-meaning compatriots who, along with Afenifere, coalesced into the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, to constitute the vanguard of progressive forces that ensured the restoration of democracy and the birth of the fourth republic in Nigeria.

“We’re happy to note that the progressive forces remain alert, committed and active. And we’re confident that the progressive spirit will continue to sustain and nurture democratic ideals in Nigeria.

“While we celebrate sustained democratic rule in our country on this auspicious occasion, we’re also reminded that democratic practice remains work in progress.

“We, therefore, call on all our compatriots, particularly the civil society groups, to collaborate with other progressive forces to deepen democratic practice and processes in Nigeria, for the benefit of this generation and generations yet unborn.

“Thus, June 12 is a reminder that although we come from different backgrounds with diverse perspectives, our shared goal of a prosperous Nigeria where equity, justice, social and economic well-being are at play is the driving force behind our determination to see this country progress.”

But OhanaezeNdigbo, said democracy in Nigeria has performed below expectation, saying no conscious efforts had been made by the political elites to strengthen it.

National Publicity Secretary of the group, DrEzechiChukwu, said, “Nigeria’s democracy is in a cul-de-sac, as a result of lack of conscious efforts by successive governments and political elite to strengthen our institutions and de-personalise our political system.

“The most pragmatic approach today to reinvent the fabrics of our democracy, therefore, is restructuring, which constitutes a robust pathway to healthy competition among federating units, devolution of powers, resource control and fiscal federalism.

“The ultimate end of democracy is the well being of the people and if the foundation of our organic corpus is flawed, the aura of democracy will undoubtedly be perennially elusive. Hence, the centre ought to be unburdened to enhance good governance and effective bureaucracy at various strata of social structure.”

Similarly, the pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), ChekwasOkorie, said Nigeria’s democracy was already comatose.

Okorie said: “The state of Nigeria’s democracy is at best comatose. The bitter truth is that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians have lost confidence in the basic institutions upon which our democracy rests.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is constitutionally empowered to manage the country’s democratic process and cannot be trusted, based on the disappointing outcomes of its previous performance as a highly compromised institution.

“The judiciary, which is expected to deliver substantial justice to aggrieved petitioners who were flagrantly shortchanged by the electoral commission, turned out to be a colossal disappointment. Justice was available only to the highest bidder.

“Tragically, the National and state assemblies are perceived as rubber stamps to the executive governments at the national and state levels. Nigeria is dangerously and rapidly drifting into a dictatorship.”

Delivering a damning verdict, former presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Dele Momodu, who expressed concern over the current state of Nigeria’s democracy, warned that the country was sliding into what he described as civilian dictatorship.

The PDP chieftain, who spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, lamented the erosion of democratic values, especially in the lead-up to this year’s Democracy Day.

Momodu said: “I’m very happy that today coincides with the lead-up to June 12 (Democracy Day), so that if we still have any iota of conscience left, we’ll realise we have damaged this democracy.

“The summary of it all is that on the eve of June 12, Nigeria is virtually back to civilian dictators who don’t care how you feel or what you think. Nigerians are hungry.

“We’ve damaged this democracy, and I hope we’ve not damaged it beyond repair because the audacity, the effrontery of this set of politicians—whether in the executive, legislature, or local government—is unbelievable.”

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, on its part, said, “It is both ironic and regrettable that the same All Progressives Congress (APC) — a party built by the same political elements and movements that once championed the immortalisation of MKO Abiola and the restoration of June 12 as Democracy Day — has become the architect of the systematic erosion of the very values June 12 represents.

“While we recognise and appreciate the efforts of past and present administrations in acknowledging June 12 — particularly the historic declaration by President MuhammaduBuhari recognizing it as Democracy Day — we must not be blinded by symbolism without substance.”

Speaking on the state of Nigeria’s democracy since the June 12, 1993 elections, National Secretary of the CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh said: “The annulled election, widely regarded as a true expression of the people’s will, was suppressed by a military regime, yet its spirit inspired a relentless pursuit of democracy.”

The SDP, said June 12 would remain a watershed in Nigeria’s democratic journey but lamented that the country was sadly bogged down by the yoke of leadership conspiracy

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Rufus Aiyenigba, said: “Today, Nigeria celebrates, yet another national anniversary of the pride of place in our political history and the indelible marks that June 12, 1993, made in our national life, particularly as a historic watershed and being emblematic of our democracy, and shaping our collective efforts at nation-building.

“The SDP notes the date with fond reminiscences and great reverence to the memory of the immortal symbol of our nascent democracy, the late business mogul and African icon, BashorunMoshoodAbiola, who treaded the heroic path of the uncommon sacrifice of becoming a martyr, so democratic rule could take firm roots in Nigeria.

“June 12, 1993, was quite a defining moment in our journey towards democratic rule, and the date has become an eternal reference point in our journey towards nation-building.”