Peter Obi: Nigeria’s Democracy Has Collapsed, Needs Urgent Rebuilding

By John Audu.
ABUJA, Nigeria – Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has declared that Nigeria’s democracy has “collapsed” and urgently requires rebuilding. He made this statement at a colloquium marking the 60th birthday of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, in Abuja.
Obi expressed deep concern over the current state of the nation, stating that instead of progressing, Nigeria has regressed. He likened the situation to a failed building project, where previous efforts to establish a strong democratic foundation have been destroyed.
“If you look at where we are today, it’s like they started in 1999, laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to a decking, and some people were trying to raise it to the first floor, and some people came and knocked everything down. That’s the situation we are in now. Everything has been knocked down. Nothing works,” Obi said.
He contrasted his experiences as Governor of Anambra State with the present political climate, recalling instances where democratic processes functioned without corruption or interference.
Obi recounted how he regained his governorship through court rulings without paying bribes, and how former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua intervened on his behalf during political challenges. He asserted that such acts of democratic support are no longer evident in Nigeria.
“When I was being impeached, the president sent people to come and intervene on my behalf. Ken Nnamani came, begging House people not to impeach me. Today, the president impeaches the person. So that is the thing, so it’s collapsed. So, it’s failed,” he stated.
Obi also shared personal anecdotes of presidential support during his legal battles, contrasting those experiences with what he perceives as a current trend of political interference.
“It’s failed. Let’s not talk about it; let’s talk about how we are going to rebuild it. It’s collapsing,” Obi concluded, emphasizing the need for urgent action to restore Nigeria’s democratic foundations.