As our dear nation marks Democracy Day today, commemorating 25 years of striving to be a democratic country, the fundamental question for all of us remains: Are we truly democratic?

An unexamined life is not worth living, so it is now time to re-examine what we have been doing over this quarter of a century. Democracy, as we know, is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

While we may say that in 1999 we started in earnest in the right direction, today we have deteriorated into what can be classified as classical state capture. Instead of benefiting all, it has become a deprivation to all.

The consequences of not being a true democracy have led to leadership failures that have resulted in uncontrolled systemic corruption, high levels of insecurity, lack of freedom of speech, increasing poverty rates, and unprecedented levels of hunger and hardship, which remain unsolved and are growing geometrically. True democracy should be people-oriented, where the rights of citizens are respected, the laws are obeyed, the leaders remain accountable to the people, and people's welfare and care, especially for the poor, become paramount and high priorities. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case in our situation. To further illustrate that we are not truly democratic and have only produced the vices enumerated above,

we are now ranked as follows:

In the measurement of democracy, we have a democracy index score of 4.23, which ranks us low on the Global Democracy Index. In the Corruption Perception Index, we are ranked 145th among the 180 countries measured, showing a high level of corruption in Nigeria. In the Rule of Law Measurement, we are ranked 120th out of 142 countries measured in the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, indicating that Nigeria suffers from gross disobedience to the rule of law.

The 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) describes Nigeria as one of West Africa's most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists.

Nigeria ranks 112th out of 180 countries where journalists are regularly monitored, attacked, and arbitrarily arrested. We are ranked 109th out of 125 countries measured on the Global Hunger Index.

Let us, therefore, use the commemoration of June 12 as an occasion to return to a truly democratic nation. We achieved that feat on June 12, 1993, by collectively voting for democracy in Nigeria. We must stand in defense of Nigeria's democracy today.

I urge everyone to respect and protect the institutions of the democratic state, obey the governing laws of the state, be accountable to the people, and fulfill the responsibilities of responsible governance as contained in the constitution.

As we build a New Nigeria, these tenets shall be the pillars of our true democracy. It is possible. -PO

Peter Obi

Nigerians will wish Buhari never left..

NIGERIANS SHOULD TELL BOLA TO RETURN NIGERIAN ECONOMY THE WAY HE MET IT

The real president has spoken

Fact!

I think the best thing Buhari did was to declare June 12 as Democracy day as former May 29 rarely attract politicians to make any speech.

APC's government is like hell while that of PDP, heaven.

"True democracy should be people-oriented, where the rights of citizens are respected, the laws are obeyed, the leaders remain accountable to the people, and people's welfare and care, especially for the poor, become paramount and high priorities. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case in our situation. To further illustrate that we are not truly democratic and have only produced the vices enumerated above",

This is more like it, a real speech

Not the other by Tinubu laced with hopelessness

One cup of garri is 300 naira.

This is just the beginning. Until idiots don't become presidents again, the madness of deliberately assassinating the economy won't stop.

Peter Obi speech is more inspiring than cluesless Tinubu pre-record jargon

Obi Gbajue.. this is why Sowore dey flog this guy. person wey no conduct local government election for 7years, civil servants dey strike back to back under his administration. abeg park well. Obi kille Anambra youths and dumped them in ezu river, the same man dey talk democracy. fraud.

Thanks for your reassurance, the People's President, at least your words sooth sane Nigerians and give us the true hope

Shietima will do gateman while Tinubu handle economy..

Na him
Chief wailer

Where is the lies

When we get it right by voting correctly without prejudice, tribalism, nepotism etc, Nigeria will gett back on tracks....

X

peter obi will never be president

d

Thanks for running in 2023

Please do us the favour again in 2027

Sore loser!

They will always attack him. Sometimes I wonder if these set of people in nairaland are actually real. Like real in this Nigeria


Are they not in touch of current economic mess of Nigeria by Tinubu??

See the dumbo above me

We are literally back to where we started

Meaning, all OBJ, Yaradua and GEJ efforts were in vain

The best advise i can give to the people of Nigeria is to protect yourself away from the government and boys both uniform and non-uniform boys (ISWAP, Boko Haram and Fulani herdmen). Get the famers back to the farm, we unable to feed ourselves as a nation. It's well.

Remember that West Africans are the true biblical hebrew Isrealites.

Indeed things have fallen apart...while growing up things fall apart was just a fictional novel we read for fun but now With APC in the saddle for 9 years now the reality of the novel is here with us ...the economy is in shambles...inflation is over the roof yet Baterians said we most endure it because things will get better...even though policies of government is clueless and without futuristic reforms and growth....unrealistic reforms and propaganda...in the midst of chaos changing national anthem is the most important poririty of the president....as for u Baterians weeping bitterly at what Peter obi said I will advise you to drink obi bitters to clear your systolic mind ...I insist that may 29 should be our democracy day..because it's on this day in 1999 we return to civilian government...June 12 could have been but it was aborted...the only reason buharia changed it to june12 was to spite IBB since he was the one that stopped democracy from happening...as long as Nigeria remains this day shall always be a reminder of the role IBB and co played to frustate our country march to civilian rule...

Well spoken

Ezeama400:
Nigerians will wish Buhari never left..

NIGERIANS SHOULD TELL BOLA TO RETURN NIGERIAN ECONOMY THE WAY HE MET IT

igbo

Bobloco:

"True democracy should be people-oriented, where the rights of citizens are respected, the laws are obeyed, the leaders remain accountable to the people, and people's welfare and care, especially for the poor, become paramount and high priorities. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case in our situation. To further illustrate that we are not truly democratic and have only produced the vices enumerated above",

This is more like it, a real speech

Not the other by Tinubu laced with hopelessness

igbo

I believe he chose the word 'deteriorated' not to sound pessimistic. The appropriate word is 'decomposed'.

Kosiso12:


Peter Obi

Coming from someone that was part of the military regime.

Not just any millitary regime but regime of Sani Abacha.

Peter u don't have shame and u re not in a position to speak about democracy.

PO just dey pepper 🌶️ Tinubu anyhow
Do we have two governments?!
😂😂

Putindbutt:
Obi Gbajue.. this is why Sowore dey flog this guy. person wey no conduct local government election for 7years, civil servants dey strike back to back under his administration. abeg park well. Obi kille Anambra youths and dumped them in ezu river, the same man dey talk democracy. fraud.

This one na confirm MUMU. You accept the suffering of tinubu but u couldn't accept that of Jonathan. A SHEEP is far better than you in terms of reasoning cos they can tell a difference between grass and weed.

Anytime hear Obi speak I am always dismayed by his lack of depth. He always wants to be in the news but he has no substance in his messages. He dances with all the good words but you feel insincerity and deception in his speech, even Atiku attracts more substance than him.
Soyinka was right.
Sowore was even more right.
Hear President Tinubu speak and he inspires a sense of nationhood and patriotism.

For those in doubt bring out video of when Obi speak and when either Tinubu or Atiku speak. Obi has nothing to offer

These are early days and the past one year will be the best year under Tinubu

Unless something drastic happens, the suffering of subsequent years will be unimaginable. Nigerians have no idea what their predicaments are…. But all will learn the very hard way