By Muhammad Mamman
The National Association of Liberated Tigers (NALT) has called on African nations to deepen their democratic culture beyond the ritual of holding regular elections.
NALT President, Obinna Amoke, issued the charge in a post-convention statement on Tuesday, stressing that democracy should not be reduced to periodic voting exercises.
Mr Amoke described Nigeria as one of the world’s most “politically challenged” nations, plagued by entrenched corruption, abuse of incumbency, poverty, and religious intolerance. He argued that while democracy offers developing countries the chance to tackle inequality, this promise has largely remained unfulfilled.
Also speaking, NALT founding father Obi Nweze reminded members to remain committed to the organisation’s core values, particularly service to the less privileged. He announced that all chapters must now publish financial statements every two months, while the position of zonal representatives has been scrapped to improve efficiency.
In his keynote address, Chukwuemeka Eze, Director of Democratic Futures in Africa at the Open Society Foundations, stressed that social justice is the “lifeblood of democracy.” Delivering his paper titled “Social Movement, Social Justice and the Future of Democracy: The Role of NALT Club in the Reimagination of Democratic Ethos”, he warned against Nigeria drifting into a one-party state and urged NALT members to champion inclusive political spaces where diverse voices can be heard.
