South-South leaders and prominent figures have expressed divergent views following ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s assertion that democracy is no longer functioning in Nigeria.
While some leaders, including King Dodo II of the Bilabiri Kingdom in Bayelsa State, former House of Representatives member Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, and elder statesman Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, backed Obasanjo’s stance, others such as former Chief Whip of the Senate Senator Roland Owie and Niger Delta activist Zik Gbemre dismissed the claims as exaggerated and misleading.
King Dodo II, the traditional ruler of the Bilabiri Kingdom, lamented that democracy has been replaced by autocracy, citing the controversial political developments in Rivers State as evidence. He argued that the democratic process is being undermined and warned that the political landscape is deteriorating.
Echoing similar sentiments, former lawmaker Ogbonna Nwuke stated that democracy in Nigeria has collapsed as the right individuals were not elected to power. He condemned actions like the removal of elected governors and legislative interventions that bypass constitutional provisions.
Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, leader of the Rivers State Elders, also expressed concerns about Nigeria descending into dictatorship. He criticized the disregard for constitutional procedures, warning that civilian dictatorship could inadvertently encourage military intervention.
However, not all leaders agreed with Obasanjo’s stance. Senator Roland Owie argued that while democracy in Nigeria faces challenges, it is not entirely non-functional. He attributed the perceived collapse to the erosion of integrity among political officeholders rather than the system itself.
Niger Delta activist Zik Gbemre criticized Obasanjo’s comments, arguing that the former president contributed significantly to the flaws in Nigeria’s democracy during his administration. He asserted that what the nation needs is good governance, not just democratic reforms.
Joseph Ambakederimo, convener of the South-South Reawakening Group, noted that the issue is not with democracy itself but with the politicians who have undermined its values. He maintained that democracy is alive, but political actors are the ones jeopardizing its progress.
Former Secretary of the Civil Liberties Organisation in Bayelsa State, Alagoa Morris, described Nigeria’s democratic experience as a sham, marked by lawlessness and a lack of accountability. He emphasized the need for systemic reforms to salvage the country’s political framework.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) faulted the inability of political elites, including Obasanjo, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar, to mobilize Nigerians towards direct political action to safeguard democracy. The party called for proactive measures to challenge what it described as “political dictatorship” by the current administration.
As the debate rages on, Nigerians are left grappling with contrasting perspectives on the state of democracy and governance in the country.
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