DR FREDERICK Fasehun is the founder and president of the Ood­ua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), and chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). In this interview, he bares his mind on the interven­tion of the military in Nigeria politics 50years ago, saying they have introduced violence through their long stay. Excerpts:

How would you describe the military intervention of January 15, 1966?

The military intervention in 1966 was well meaning but they stayed for too long. We thought they came to correct the political situation that was rampant at that time. Nobody knew they came to replace. And they stayed long until their visit was unwelcome. The country is still suffering from the effects of their long stay till now.

They didn’t allow our politi­cians to learn from their mistakes. Instead of correcting mistakes they became mistake makers themselves. What they came to correct they didn’t correct. They became worse and worse until Nigerians forgot what democracy was. We are still suffering from that long stay up till now. That is why we render a system where Ni­gerians still don’t know what de­mocracy is. But we hope and pray with the new government in place; the government that was part of system that upturned democracy in those days, they would have learnt from their past mistakes to allow democracy to grow.

Why did you say Nigerians still don’t know what democracy is?

Democracy is purely about rule of law. We don’t have rule of law now. I mean, the President should not arrest civilians for detention. But that is happening now. De­mocracy is the accepted govern­ment by the majority of the people. We started cheering them when they came in, but few months after we started gearing at them. That is not democracy. Democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people.


More @ http://www.zubbyblog.com/long-years-of-military-rule-didnt-allow-our-democracy-to-grow-fasehun/