Failed democracy comment: Watch your utterances, Presidency cautions Peter Obi

The presidency has cautioned Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, over his recent comment declaring that democracy in Nigeria has failed.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, criticised Obi’s comment on democracy, describing it as exaggerated and lacking logical basis. 

He argued that Nigeria’s democracy remains intact and has continued to strengthen over the past 26 years.

He also noted that Obi’s ability to freely express his views was itself proof that democracy was still functioning.

Reacting to the development in a post on X, he wrote, “I listened multiple times to former Governor Peter Obi’s statement in this clip, where he claims that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria. His hyperbolic remarks, suited for headlines, have been made without deep reflection and lack a solid logical foundation. How can a democracy that has strengthened over the past 26 years be said to have collapsed?

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“Only a discontented and disgruntled Peter, who benefits from the very free speech democracy provides, could perceive such a democratic downfall through his lens. If democracy had indeed collapsed, as Peter claims, and we were living under a regime antithetical to democratic principles, he would not have been able to make his comments on Monday at Emeka Ihedioha’s colloquium. I will urge him to watch what he says and restrain himself from playing to the gallery.”

Tribune Online reports Obi made the comment during the 60th birthday colloquium of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, in Abuja. 

He lamented that while Nigeria had laid the foundation for democratic governance in 1999, progress had been undone over time, leaving the system ineffective. 

Citing his personal experience, he contrasted past administrations’ role in protecting democratic values with the present situation, which he claimed has seen democracy undermined by political influence.

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