June 12: Obi Laments Growing Corruption, Insecurity, Hunger, Impunity

AS Nigerians marked the June 12 anniversary, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has lamented growing corruption, insecurity, hunger and impunity in the land, urging President Bola Tinubu to stop governing Nigeria with a remote control, but go round the country to feel the plight of the people.
In a message in Abuja to mark the 12th Democracy Day, titled, ‘Democracy in decline reflecting on two years of Tinubu’s governance,’ Obi, rating the handling of governance in the last two years sector by sector, including corruption, prudence, economy, insecurity and politics, etc, said a lot was going wrong, calling on Tinubu to note that “governing by remote is not what Nigerians need, you need to go round and get firsthand” per cent. President should stop touring outside Nigeria and use his remaining two years to tour the Nigerian states instead.
He added: “Mr. President, you have already made over 30 international trips, spending nearly 150 days abroad. If you tour Nigeria’s 36 states and dedicate just two days to tour each state, it would take only 72 days for you to do so, less than half the time you have already spent in other areas of the country on foreign trips. You need to go around the country to see.”
He asked Tinubu “to emulate late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was honest enough to admit the process that brought him into office was wrong and not sufficiently credible,” and insisted on rapidly doing what was right to save our democracy, and former President Goodluck Jonathan, who saved our democracy by accepting defeat even before the final election results were announced.
“We must end this troubling governance era that is filled with impunity, state capture, absolute disregard for the rule of law and checks and balances required of any worthwhile democracy.
“In our present state, our dear country, Nigeria, cannot be justly classified as a democratic country. The vital indications of democracy are noticeably absent. Some do not even exist. Democracy is said to be ‘a government of the people, by the people, and for the people,’ yet none of these three measures exist in our democracy today.
“Rules, regulations and requirements to participate in elections or be elected for are not followed, consequently, individuals who are to be disqualified, ab initio, are now holding, including public offices.
“It is most troubling that in its two years in office, the present government has brought the nation to the point where our leaders now celebrate and endorse failure, lies and propaganda.
“The government today, rather than show genuine accountability and measurable progress, focuses on manipulating narratives, gaslighting the public, shifting blame and weaponising governance.
“Nigerians live in a worsening and worrisome insecurity, widespread corruption, hunger and general despondency. There are no clear benchmarks for measuring tangible development, as we continue to witness the collapse of key indicators, like education, healthcare and poverty alleviation, which are presently measuring national progress.
“Our country today can best be described as a nation declining fast in all its facets. The security of lives and property has worsened and the rule of law is virtually non-existent.”