Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) , Peter Obi has said described Nigeria’s democracy as “fast losing its essence” as a result of deep-necked poverty ravaging the country.
Obi, who disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Monday said the number of Nigerians living in poverty is alarming, a situation which he said democracy was supposed to address.
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.”
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He called on leaders to address poverty in the land by prioritising and strengthening independent institutions and delivering of economic progress to the people.
“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.” Now is the time to deepen democracy and build a better future for all Nigerians. Amid the rise of coups across Africa and the growing fragility of democracies globally, it is evident that democracy cannot thrive without trust, robust institutions, and a steadfast commitment to the welfare of the people.”
He argued that for democracy in Africa to thrive beyond its current fragile state, it must operate within its foundational tenets, going beyond ceremonial elections. This requires building critical institutions that command trust and deliver absolute respect for the people’s will.
“Governance can only deliver tangible benefits when the will of the people prevails,” he added.
In a related development, Obi has also decried the way the prevailing security challenges have ravaged Zamfara communities and hamper agricultural production, thereby aggravating hunger and poverty in the agrarian state.
He stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Gusau and the people Of Zamfara State in Gusau on Monday.
The trip to the North-Western state followed the military strikes in the Tungar Kara community in the Maradun Local Government Area which claimed about 16 lives.
Obi who was represented by spokesperson for the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections , Tanko Yunusa, expressed concerns that people who were supposed to be protected were the ones who lost their lives.
His condolence message was delivered to the Emir of Gusau by Yunusa, who said whatever happens to the people of Zamfara happens to Peter Obi, which was why he sent him to come and commiserate with them before LP candidate Peter Obi would come in person.
Obi attributed hunger and unemployment as factors responsible for the prevailing insecurity bedevilling Zamfara and the country at large, pointing out that if there is prosperity in the land, security becomes easier.
He emphasised that if the country must be protected, there is a need to go back to the country’s root, which is production, not consumption, arguing that production is one of the sure ways Nigeria can overcome its current challenges of insecurity, hunger and unemployment hence the need for the for government prioritising it.
The District Head of Tudun Wada Gusau Bashir Danbaba, who received Obi’s condolence message on behalf of the Emir of Gusau, thanked him for identifying with the people of Zamfara during this trying period.
He also prayed for peace in Zamfara and Nigeria as a country.
