Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has issued a clarion call to political leaders, urging them to uphold true democracy in Nigeria, in honor of the sacrifices made by national heroes and the Nigerian masses.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Obi emphasized that democracy transcends mere electoral processes and requires the fulfillment of governmental responsibilities as outlined in the constitution.
“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?” Obi tweeted, underscoring the need for a genuine democratic society.
He highlighted the essential pillars necessary for the establishment of a new Nigeria grounded in true democracy, expressing optimism about the possibility of achieving this goal.
Obi also expressed concern over Nigeria’s poor rankings in various global indices, citing low scores on the Global Democracy Index, a high level of corruption according to the Corruption Perception Index, and a lack of adherence to the rule of law as measured by the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index.
Furthermore, he referenced the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, which depicts Nigeria as one of West Africa’s most perilous countries for journalists, along with dismal rankings on the Global Hunger Index.
Against this backdrop, Obi called on political leaders to recommit to the ideals of true democracy, urging them to utilize the occasion of June 12 to reflect on Nigeria’s journey towards democracy since the historic election in 1993.
“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 defence of Nigeria’s democracy today,” he concluded, echoing the need for collective action to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic principles.