A coalition of pro-democracy organisations has criticised the undemocratic conduct of most of the present crop of political leaders in Nigeria.
They stated this during the National Convention and Democracy Icons Award of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) over the weekend in Abuja.
The National Chairman of COPDEM, Rwang Pam Junior said there are two types of politicians: those in power and those out of power, whom he said must serve the best interest of the people.
He said Nigerian politicians have a duty to lead this country right and urged aides and family members to tell them what is right so that they can amend their policies.
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He said, “If there are policies they have already taken and the policies are worthy, then we should help them and encourage them to implement policies not only have papers churning out of the National Assembly and no action is on the ground.
“People are tired of hearing that it is better; the dollar has gone up, gone down, they want to see it in terms of garri and cocoa, rice and beans in the streets.
“Once it has gone to that level then you are really impacting the people and if you have not gotten there then you have not started anything.”
He said the awards have been created for individuals who sacrificed everything risking intimidation, arrests and detention and spoke out in defence of democracy during the 2023 general elections.
He noted that Nigerians should celebrate heroes like Dele Giwa, Gani Fawehinmi, Obadiah Mailafia, MKO Abiola for laying down their lives for the country.
In his remarks, the Secretary General of the Big Tent, Dr Austin Kemie said the present crop of politicians do not conform to the principles of democracy unlike in the second republic when politicians and political parties had ideologies.
“In the second republic, we had politicians with a conscience; I am sure some of you may be old enough to recall the politicians in the second republic,” he said.
“For political parties at the time, you can easily identify what each of these political parties stood for like the NPN, PRP, UPN and so forth in the late 1970s and early 80s.”
Kemie said the event was necessary because it brings stakeholders, citizens and compatriots around the country to remind them that democracy is an important implement that we need to advance good governance in Nigeria.
Some of the personalities awarded the icon awards are Peter Obi, Ifeanyi Nrialike, Aisha Yesufu, Rufai Oseni, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Kenneth Okonkwo, His Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and several other individuals and organisations.
The organisation also awarded scholarships to three individuals: Benedict Princess Nneka, Irinola Oluwaleke Michael and Ekanem Precious Emmanuel.
