Politicians Have Turned Democracy Upside Down In The Country, Nigerians Lament

By Our Reporters

Nigerians across various socio-economic divides have concluded that it is a misnomer to describe Nigeria as a democratic state, but rather an emerging fascist nation going by the mass defection obviously under threat, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

A cross-section of those interviewed in different parts of the federation by ATLANTICNEWSONLINE with respect to the celebration of Democracy Day said that Nigeria’s democracy is currently lacking in all globally known attributes of democracy starting with the Rule of Law.

Many of the speakers who spoke anonymously posited that a country where governors and other political office holders defect from the parties that brought them to power into the ruling APC with impunity, contrary to the provisions of the constitution is anti-democratic.

While some are angered by the lack of concern for the hardship and serious insecurity in the country, others are disillusioned with the ostentatious life style of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

They argued that while many people in the country could not afford even one meal a day due to high cost and lack of employment, the Tinubu administration is repainting places like International Conference Centre, Abuja with billions of naira.

“The insensitivity of the Tinubu administration to the hardship, insecurity, inflation etc in Nigeria is the height of political idiocy” according to Usman Jalingo, a lawyer by profession.

According to him, “it is quite disheartening that Tinubu whom many people believed would do better than his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari started from day one with a wrong decision. He removed the fuel subsidy regime like a military regime would do without adequate consultation since we are in democracy.

“Even at that, with all the trillions accruing to the country from the subsidy removal, no tangible development in the life of Nigerians, rather more hardship had been created in all spheres. Matters are made worse by the continuous external borrowing running into billions of dollars. What are they doing with the money,” Jalingo asked.

Another contributor from Owerri who simply identified herself as Mrs. Nnayi said that as far as she is concerned democracy does not exist in Nigeria. Said she: “Look at what is happening every where, people are running into APC because they feel that is where the loot is. They want to have their own share of our money through supporting Tinubu who got into office dubiously. The INEC is corrupt, judiciary corrupt and just yesterday I read about the threat Ebonyi State governor has given to traditional rulers in the state to support Tinubu and APC or else they would revoke their certificate of office as traditional rulers. Do you call such a behavior democratic?”she asked.

Many of those who spoke to ATLANTICNEWSONLINE said that there is nothing democratic in what the country has seen in recent time. Some cited example with the mass demonstrations led by Tinubu’s APC against Goodluck Jonathan’s administration when the government slightly increased the prize of fuel. “Security agencies under Jonathan could not attack anyone including Tinubu but can this present government allow any such demonstrations without sending security agencies after the demonstrators.”

Across the country, while Tinubu’s administration and its cheerleaders beat their chest that a messiah is on seat, millions of other Nigerians are regretting their citizenship of a country where corruption is beautified and honoured while virtue is suppressed and demonized.

Many seem to have lost hope in the country and are only waiting for God to deliver us all from hands of the oppressors. To them, it is an anathema to say that Nigeria is a democracy and nothing to celebrate on a day like this.