Politician and a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi has said described Nigeria’s democracy as “fast losing its essence” as a result of deep-necked poverty ravaging the country.
He made this clear in a Monday post on his X handle.
He claimed that democracy was supposed to address the alarming situation of Nigerians living in poverty.
He said, “With about 100 million Nigerians living in absolute poverty and 150 million in multidimensional poverty, democracy is fast losing its essence if it fails to address the fundamental needs of its citizens, particularly in critical areas such as health, education, and poverty alleviation”.
He urged leaders to prioritize promoting economic growth, strengthening independent institutions, and addressing poverty in the country.
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“We must confront the fundamental question: is democracy truly addressing the needs of Nigerians? Are we building institutions that uphold accountability, justice, and fairness? To achieve a functional democracy, we must prioritize strengthening independent institutions, fostering governance that delivers economic and social progress, encouraging active citizenship to hold leaders accountable, and empowering our youth as drivers of nation-building.
” As Nelson Mandela once said, “As long as poverty, injustice, and inequality exist, none of us can truly rest”. The time has come to strengthen democracy and ensure that all Nigerians have a better future. It is clear that democracy cannot survive without trust, strong institutions, and a steadfast commitment to the welfare of the people, with the rise of coups in Africa and the fragility of democracies around the world.
He argued that, in addition to ceremonial elections, democracy in Africa must continue to exist in its current fragile state. To achieve this, it is necessary to establish enduring institutions that command trust and utter respect for the people’s wishes.
Source: Channels TV
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