By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo on Wednesday, said 25 years after continuous civilian rule, Nigeria is yet to imbibe true spirit of democracy.
Ambassador Ajadi expressed this in a statement to mark the country’s Democracy Day on Wednesday, June 12,
The NNPP chieftain stressed that it is time for political leaders in the country to play the game according to the rule so that every individuals irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations can enjoy the dividends of democracy.
According to him, ” no true democracy thrive in usurpation of all governmental powers by one arm, the executive, saying democracy can only thrive with the independent of all the three arms of governments, judiciary, legislature and executive.
“It is sad that after 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, our leaders are yet to embrace true spirit of democracy. We have been having civilian rule that are not democratic”, he said.
Ambassador Ajadi added, ” Starting from election which is the basis of democracy, we have not had a free and fair election in this country.
“Rather than people deciding who to govern them as it is obtained in true democracy, Five or Seven judges of the Supreme Court or Appeal Courts have been the ones deciding the winners of our elections”
Ambassador Ajadi maintained that the Judiciary and Legislature’s functions have been subsumed by the executive, thus making Nigerians to be living in civilian dictatorship.
While urging Nigerians to continue praying for the leaders, for them to lead the country aright, the NNPP Chieftain said ” Nigeria is blessed with huge mineral resources which if well harnessed will make the country one of the leading powers in the World
“In a true democracy, there should be independent of three arms of government, but here in Nigeria, both Legislature and Judiciary are under the control of the Executive.
“Nigerians instead of experiencing dividends of democracy from the so called elected leaders, they are experiencing hardship, with many of them dying of hungers on daily basis.
The NNPP Chieftain then tasked Nigeria leaders to put at all times put the interest of Nigerians in their minds, saying, “As we are celebrating Democracy Day today, I urge our leaders to have a change of heart and put the interest of Nigerians in their minds”.
“I urged the government to use this occasion to formulate policies that would bring growth and development, price control and components of true democracy. I also appealed to Nigerians to continue praying for our leaders for them to toe the right path in bringing development to our nation. We don’t have any other country and when our leaders get it right, we will all enjoy the resources that the Almighty has blessed us with”
