Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said there was nothing worth celebrating as Nigeria marked Democracy Day yesterday.
He backed up his position by citing rising insecurity, a bad economy, and leaders’ undemocratic tendencies.
Osodeke said in an interview with The Guardian that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has failed to provide Nigerians with the benefits of democracy.
He bemoaned the fact that the cost of living has skyrocketed, with the poor getting poorer and infrastructure rapidly deteriorating.
“With a minimum wage of 30,000 Naira, less than a bag of rice, Nigerian workers are living in abject poverty,” he said, adding that people’s living standards were even better during military regimes. He went on to say that the military provided better funding for education.
“To Nigerians, vote out people who think they can buy votes with money, and vote for people with clear-cut plans to move the country forward,” Osodeke said.
The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives, for its part, has condemned human rights violations perpetrated by the APC-led administration.
In a statement released on Democracy Day, the caucus, led by Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, said that disregard for rules, suppression of citizens, nepotism, impositions, blatant injustice, lawlessness, unbridled corruption, impunity, extreme insensitivity, and electoral manipulations have become the norm.
The Federal Government should use Democracy Day to commit to processes that will check electoral manipulations, ensure voter security, and ensure that only votes cast by Nigerians count at the end of the elections, according to the report.
It urged Nigerians to “remain resolute in the collective determination to entrench the tenets of democracy in our country by fully participating in the current electoral process,” rather than despair.
“The Minority Caucus extols the courage, selflessness, and patriotism of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, who made enormous sacrifices and paid the ultimate price for the establishment of democracy in our country,” the statement continued.
“As a result, we call on leaders at all levels to honour this legacy by carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the demands of justice, equity, fairness, and rule-following.”
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged Nigerians to prepare their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the general elections in 2023.
Saraki acknowledged the sacrifice of Nigeria’s past heroes who contributed to the development of the country’s democracy in a statement released by his Abuja media office, and urged citizens of voting age to ensure they exercise their civic duty by voting next year.
“As Nigerian families prepare to commemorate the significance of #DemocracyDay, we must all remember the immeasurable sacrifice of our heroes, as well as celebrate the courage and perseverance of all Nigerians,” the statement reads.
“This is because, despite hiccups along the way to institutionalising stronger democratic values in all aspects of our lives, Nigerians have always shown an unwavering commitment to forge a better, stronger, safer, and more prosperous nation.”
“In this regard, as we observe today, and in light of the fact that the general elections in 2023 are just around the corner, I urge all Nigerians of voting age to ensure that they have their PVCs in order to exercise their civic responsibility by voting in the election of our leaders at the state and federal levels.”
“It is my deepest hope that, as we work to fix Nigeria by electing intentional and decisive leaders next year, our nation and all of its people will enjoy the much-needed prosperity and peace that all Nigerians have yearned for.”
SOME residents of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have also spoken out about the event.
Mrs. Hadiza bemoaned the current state of insecurity, saying, “One would have expected things to continue to improve in a democratic country in terms of infrastructure, such as good roads, security, and education.” But that is not the case in Nigeria, where things are only getting worse.”
“It is rather unfortunate that the democracy we are celebrating today, which is supposed to make life better, is not doing so,” Raphael, another local, said. Everywhere we look in government, we see corruption, a bad economy, and leaders who say things they don’t even mean.”
But, according to a pastor from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) who did not want his name published, all is not lost. Despite its current challenges, he maintained that Nigeria would still become great.
SENATE President Ahmad Lawan, on the other hand, congratulated Nigerians in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday.
“June 12 is more than just a date for Nigerians,” he said. It is a watershed moment in our efforts to establish a democratic polity, as Nigerians rose above primordial sentiments on that day, 29 years ago, to proclaim the oneness of their country and the unity of its people.”
“Let us be confident in our ability to turn things around for the good of all of us in our efforts to build a better nation,” he added. Our goal should be to build our country on the foundations of equity, justice, and fairness, so that it can withstand challenges.”
