The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, on Monday criticized the state of democracy in Nigeria, saying it has been “knocked down” especially with the suspension of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Obi, who spoke in Abuja during a colloquium held in honour of former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, who was celebrating his 60th birthday, regretted that the foundation of a new Nigeria laid at the return of Nigeria to democratic rule on May 29, 1999 and the building blocks after has seen “some people” came into government to knock “everything down.”
Last Tuesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State over the prolonged political crisis and vandalism of oil facilities, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all House of Assembly members for six months and appointing Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the State’s Sole Administrator.
During the question and answer session of the colloquium when he was asked why he believed democracy in Nigeria was failing, Obi explained: “Well, if you look at what Bishop Kukah said, he said it’s work in progress. Let me follow my brother when he said about 1999. If you look at where we are today, they started in 1999, laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to a decking and some people were trying to raise it to the first floor.
“And some people came and knocked everything down. That’s the situation we are in now. Everything has been knocked down. Nothing works.”
Citing his experience, Obi recalled becoming Anambra State Governor through the courts without any interference.
“I became a Governor through the courts when President (Olusegun) Obasanjo and (Vice President) Atiku Abubakar were in government. I did not pay the court one naira. I was sitting in my house in the office and the court declared me winner. When a Governor isn’t hosting them, it can’t happen in Nigeria today.
“When I was being impeached, the President sent people to intervene on my behalf. (Senator) Ken Nnamani came, begging House (of Assembly) people not to impeach me. Today, the President impeaches the person. So, that is the thing. So, it’s collapsed. So it’s failed. They were begging my House (of Assembly) not to impeach me. And they were at PDP. I was in APGA. And they were begging.
“President was calling me and said, Peter, are you okay? Even when I was impeached, President Obasanjo called me and said, are you okay? Are you safe? When I got back from the court, when court eventually declared me under Andy Uba, President Yar’Adua called my phone in London and said, congrats. I said, President, I can’t come back because you know if I come back, this people—he said, tell me the flight in which you’re coming back. And I told him.
“When I came in the first time, military people came to receive me at the airport. I couldn’t believe it and (they) took me straight to him (President Yar’Adua). Now the President will ask me not to come back here again. So, it failed. Let’s not talk about, let’s talk about how we are going to rebuild it. It’s collapsing.”
The event, chaired by former President Obasanjo, was also attended by former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; and the immediate past Governor of Katsina, Hon. Aminu Masari.
Speaking at the event, Atiku said Ihedioha has remained loyal even when they found themselves on different political platforms.
“Emeka and I have kept this relationship and till today I have found him extremely loyal, dedicated and focused even though sometimes we found ourselves on different political divides but we kept our relationship and I think that testifies with the kind of person Emeka is,” Atiku said.
