Peter Obi criticizes Nigeria’s democratic framework as transactional and lacking a true opposition. He emphasizes the necessity of reforms for fair representation, citing examples from South Africa and Indonesia to illustrate the benefits of proportional representation. Obi warns against the fragility of Nigeria’s democracy, urging for urgent changes to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has criticized the current democratic system in Nigeria, calling it transactional and deficient in true opposition. His comments were made following a parliamentary vote that he asserted revealed deep-rooted issues in the nation’s democracy. Obi emphasized that a functional opposition is essential for democracy to flourish, as it ensures accountability and presents alternative perspectives.
He noted the lack of proportional representation in Nigeria’s legislature, arguing that it hampers accountability and distorts the outcomes of elections. Obi highlighted examples from South Africa and Indonesia, where proportional representation allows various parties to maintain their electoral demands. He explained that in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) hold seats reflective of their electoral successes, maintaining order and party discipline.
Obi further stated that if Nigeria adopted a similar model, the Senate’s composition could better reflect electoral outcomes, with appropriate representation for parties based on their votes. However, he lamented the absence of laws preventing party defection, which undermines the opposition and disregards the electorate’s will. The former governor of Anambra warned that Nigeria’s democracy is fragile and dysfunctional without urgent reforms.
He described the existing system as not genuinely democratic but rather as compromised and akin to organized criminality. Obi expressed his unwavering commitment to advocating for democratic reforms, stating that the struggle for a true democracy will persist despite challenges.
In conclusion, Peter Obi’s condemnation of Nigeria’s democratic system highlights the urgent need for reforms to enhance opposition representation and address the issues stemming from a lack of proportional representation. His comparisons to other democratic systems indicate a path forward for improving accountability in governance. Unless these changes are made, Nigeria’s democracy risks remaining frail and ineffective.
Original Source: punchng.com
