As the world celebrates International Democracy Day, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in 2019 general elections, and former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has listed corruption, insecurity of lives and property, as well as economic hardship as greatest threats to Nigeria’s democracy.
Former governor Obi, in a message to mark this year’s International Democracy Day, explained that the high level of corruption among political leaders at all levels of government is seriously threatening the country’s foundation.
He also stated that economic hardship and worsening levels of poverty in the country contented with Nigeria’s democratic existence.
Mr Obi warned that unless Nigerians, especially political leaders, including himself, imbibed the virtues of accountability, political responsibility and financial prudence, the nation’s democracy would continue to stagger under the heavy weight of corruption.
He said citizens must begin to hold political office holders accountable and demand transparency in the execution of public projects, to stamp out the cankerworm of corruption eating deep into private and public institutions.
Mr Obi also lamented what he described as horrible spate of insecurity in Nigeria, fuelled by the economic woes prevalent in the nation, and argued that if the economic conditions in the country improved, there would be lesser security threats in the country, thus strengthening the nation’s democracy.
“The International Democracy Day provides us another opportunity to soberly reflect on our democracy as a nation. We must now begin to critically look at those factors that have so far threatened our democratic ideals. Corruption, Insecurity and Economic Hardship seem to be the greatest contenders with our democracy. The challenges we face as a nation knows no particular tribe nor religion. Let us therefore unite to build our nation and strengthen our democracy”, Obi said.
The International Day of Democracy, celebrated on September 15, is an annual day that has been running for 10 years. It is a United Nations, (UN), day of observation aimed at reviewing the state of democracy in the world and upholding democracy and its principles.
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