Nigeria’s political landscape has been thrown into the spotlight once again, as former presidential candidate Peter Obi questions the silence of those who once protested against the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Obi’s remarks came during a speech at Pa Edwin Clark’s memorial lecture in Abuja, where he expressed his concerns about the state of democracy in Nigeria.
The former Anambra state Governor pointed out that during Jonathan’s administration, people took to the streets to protest when fuel prices increased from N87 to N120, and when the dollar exchange rate reached N900. However, he noted that those same protesters are now silent, even when the dollar exchange rate has skyrocketed to N1500. “Where are those protesters?” Obi asked, “Have they died?”
Obi argued that the sacrifices made by Nigeria’s heroes are being rendered in vain, citing the country’s current state of affairs. He referenced recent reports from the World Bank, which showed that 75% of Nigerians in rural areas live in poverty, and UNICEF’s announcement that Nigeria now has over 2 million malnourished children, the second-highest in the world. “Is the World Bank denarketing Nigeria?” Obi asked, “Is UNICEF denarketing Nigeria? That’s just the reality.”
The former presidential candidate also expressed his concerns about the state of democracy in Nigeria, stating that the country is no longer democratic. He cited the recent elections in Edo, which he claimed were not democratic, and asked why the country is still claiming to be a democracy. “We have a country now that’s not democratic,” Obi said, “We are not a democratic country, let’s tell ourselves the truth.”
Obi’s remarks have sparked a heated debate about the state of politics in Nigeria, with many calling for greater accountability and transparency from the government. As the country continues to grapple with issues of poverty, corruption, and democratic governance, Obi’s words serve as a reminder that the struggles of Nigeria’s heroes are far from over. The question on everyone’s mind is, what’s next for Nigeria, and how can the country start to pick up the pieces and move forward?