As Nigeria commemorates Democracy Day on June 12th, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, has voiced his concerns about the state of the nation’s democracy. In a powerful statement, Okutepa argues that the current political landscape is a far cry from the ideals embodied by the June 12, 1993 elections, which remain the freest and most credible in the country’s history.
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Okutepa reflects on the annulment of the 1993 presidential elections, where Chief MKO Abiola and Amb Babagana Kingibe emerged victorious under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He laments that the will of the people, so clearly expressed in those elections, was subverted by anti-democratic forces, setting the stage for the challenges that continue to plague Nigeria’s political system today.
While acknowledging the symbolic importance of recognizing June 12th as Democracy Day, Okutepa questions whether the democratic experiment in Nigeria since the annulment has truly built upon the foundation laid by the 1993 elections. He asserts that many politicians and political actors in positions of power have become “democratic despots or outright democratic terrorists,” terrorizing Nigerians and the society into political submission.
Okutepa argues that the basic tenets of democracy have been discarded in favor of money-driven tyranny and coercion, with political hygiene being polluted and corruption replacing cherished democratic values. He suggests that many politicians in power did not come to their positions through democratic means, but rather forced themselves upon the populace.
The Senior Advocate calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn from the conduct of the June 12 elections, urging the commission to fulfill its constitutional duties and responsibilities in instilling political sanity. Okutepa asserts that democracy in Nigeria exists only in name, not in practice, likening the current system to a “civilian militarized government.”
Okutepa appeals to Nigerian politicians to turn over a new leaf, emphasizing that Nigerians have had enough of “democratic despotism and terrorism.” He stresses that Nigerians love democracy and the exercise of their sovereignty, but politicians have consistently trampled upon the will of the people for their own selfish interests.
As Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day, Okutepa urges politicians to allow true democracy to prevail, emphasizing that it is the only way to achieve good governance and accountability to the people. He concludes by stating that Nigeria does not currently have democracy in the true sense of the word, and calls on those in power to face this truth.
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