The 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has acknowledged that Nigeria is not a democratic nation, lamenting the erosion of democratic rules below the present administration.
Obi declared this on the New Nigeria Youth Summit 2025, organised by the Coalition for the Safety of Democracy (COPDEM) in Abuja.
Because the keynote speaker on the summit, Obi stated, “Nigeria right this moment will not be democratic, let no person deceive you. Democracy has a easy definition, authorities of the individuals, by the individuals, and for the individuals. None of those parts exists in Nigeria right this moment.
“As we go towards the following election, there’s a want for correct scrutiny and verification of these we try to vote for.
“That’s the place our downside is, when individuals come and discuss to us, when individuals come and share cash to us, when individuals come and do improper issues, none of us are asking who this particular person is. What’s he going to supply? What’s his background?” he stated.
Obi urged Nigerian youths to mobilise, warning that disorganisation perpetuates the nation’s crises.
“It’s time to organise. In case you are not organised, you’ll proceed to endure the issues we face right this moment,” he stated.
The previous Anambra State governor emphasised the necessity for a competence-based management in future elections, criticising previous voting patterns pushed by tribe and faith, somewhat than advantage.
“Within the final election, we voted tribe, we voted faith, now let’s vote competence, in order that we will begin fixing our issues, now let’s vote capability, so we will begin fixing issues,” he stated.
Obi accused the federal government of failing to ship on guarantees, significantly in electrical energy provide and employment.
“They promised uninterrupted energy, however the one improve we’ve seen is in tariffs, the extra you pay, the extra darkness you get.
“Our unemployment has gone from 40 % to 4 %? The streets are crammed with jobless youths, but nobody is fearful,” he stated.
The appearing Nationwide Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, echoed Obi’s issues in a speech delivered by her media aide, Ken Asogwa.
Reflecting on June 12, Senator Usman questioned whether or not Nigeria’s present system honours the sacrifices of pro-democracy martyrs like MKO Abiola.
“Our democracy mocks its personal identify. Elections are rituals, not reflections of the individuals’s will,” she stated.
Senator Usman known as for pressing youth-led motion, saying, “Younger individuals are not simply the leaders of tomorrow; you’re the leaders of now. Your power, innovation, and resilience are Nigeria’s best untapped belongings.
“From know-how and agriculture to leisure and digital enterprise, Nigerian youth are already constructing international manufacturers from native concepts. However they can not succeed alone.”
COPDEM’s Nationwide Chairman, Prince Rwang Pam, cautioned that youth neglect may gasoline unrest, saying, “A silent anger is brewing. If ignored, it is going to explode into damaging power.”
The summit, attended by Ms. Ankio Briggs, Prof. Udenta Udenta and different key figures, marked a push for better youth involvement in governance and policy-making.
The summit, which was focused at enhancing youth engagement in political processes, noticed a gathering of political leaders, activists, and younger innovators centered on preserving Nigeria’s democracy.
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