Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has stated that democracy fails when it cannot provide good governance to its citizens.
Speaking at the National Dialogue on Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity on Monday at the Intercontinental Hotel, Abuja, Obi emphasized the need for democracy in Africa to move beyond fragile ceremonial elections and align with its core principles.
“For democracy to thrive, it must build critical institutions that inspire trust and uphold the people’s will. Governance can only produce meaningful benefits when the will of the people prevails,” Obi said.
Obi expressed concern that Nigeria’s democracy, since the beginning of the 4th Republic, may be faltering, citing widespread poverty as a major issue.
“With around 100 million Nigerians living in absolute poverty and 150 million experiencing multidimensional poverty, democracy is losing its essence if it cannot address the fundamental needs of the people, particularly in areas like healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation,” he added.
The former Governor of Anambra State called for a reassessment of Nigeria’s democratic system and stressed that achieving a functional democracy requires prioritizing institutional development and delivering effective governance to the citizens.
“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.
“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 added.
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