As Nigeria marks the 2025 Democracy Day, Kingsley Umunna, a politician, has said that anybody who fought for democracy during the military era would be disappointed at what is happening today by democratic practitioners.
“We drive away impunity, military decision makers thinking that if we encourage democracy, there will be true participatory governance, but today, they took down the rules, the country is being converted to autocratic governance, the voice or voices of opposition are muffled here and there. Necessary democratic institutions at the INEC, the Judiciary and the local government system are all destroyed; in fact, it’s a sad commentary.
“If you look at what democracy has turned to in Nigeria, one may even wish that the military should come back out of frustration. Elections are nothing to write home about, our votes don’t count in democracy, and the judiciary is captured, the press muffled, opposition is kind of stifled, what then are we calling democracy?
“So, to me, it’s a great disappointment what our democracy has turned out to be. I weep for Nigeria, and it shows in every aspect of our lives
“Security is not there; the government can’t respond when the citizens want it. So, to me, the whole charade is regrettable. I don’t think there is democracy in Nigeria
Also speaking, Usman Ogbo, the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, has called on the citizens to remain peaceful, united and active in the democratic process and urged them to harness their diversity and collective strength in pursuit of a more prosperous state and nation.”
