Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has urged both the masses and political leaders to uphold and safeguard the institutions of a democratic state by adhering to the governing laws of the state and being answerable to the people.
Obi, through a series of tweets on X Wednesday, emphasized that democracy goes beyond mere elections but involves fulfilling the duties of responsible governance as outlined in the constitution.
His statements coincide with the 2024 celebration of Democracy Day on June 12 in Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that establishing a genuine democratic society is achievable.
“As our nation commemorates Democracy Day today, marking 25 years of efforts towards becoming a democratic nation, the crucial question that remains for all of us is: Are we genuinely democratic?
“As we strive to construct a New Nigeria, these principles will serve as the foundation of our authentic democracy. It is attainable,” he further stated.
The former presidential candidate also raised concerns about certain rankings that suggest the nation is not truly democratic.
He pointed out, “To highlight further that we are not truly democratic and have only exhibited the vices mentioned above, we are currently ranked as follows:
“In terms of democracy measurement, we have a democracy index score of 4.23, placing us low on the Global Democracy Index. In the Corruption Perception Index, we are ranked 145th out of 180 countries, indicating a high level of corruption in Nigeria. In the Rule of Law Measurement, we are positioned 120th out of 142 countries in the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, signifying a significant disregard for the rule of law in Nigeria.
“The 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) characterizes Nigeria as one of West Africa’s most dangerous and challenging countries for journalists.
“Nigeria is ranked 112th out of 180 countries where journalists face regular monitoring, attacks, and arbitrary arrests. We are placed 109th out of 125 countr.
