Tina Amanda
Some Stakeholders in Rivers state have opined that Nigeria will only become a truly democratic country when political parties are held accountable and when the people are consulted and considered in decision-making.
Speaking on the democratic state of the country, Supervisor of the Agric Trade Group of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Emmanuel Ogbonda, told our correspondent that Nigeria is yet to experience democracy which is all about leadership and consulting the people.
He emphasized that since the inception of democracy in 1960 it has been a rulership-autocratic kind of government where some persons take decisions on behalf of the masses irrespective of the negative outcome on the populace.
“When a ruler is in power, it is autocratic, but when it is democratic, the leadership is more of consulting the People’s opinion. The fact still remains we are not practising democracy in Nigeria which is why there are lots of fear and panic in the country.
“We are practising rulership kind of government where some few individuals make decisions for the masses without due consultation. For instance, trying to force or impose “RUGA” in every state even when some states are against it.
“Today we are suffering virtually on everything, unnecessary increases on every life affair. Democracy allows freedom, people are free to express their minds and views, when people have expressed their views, it will be collectively agreed upon and accepted as a collective decision for the benefit of all”.
He further urged the National Orientation Agency NOA to take the bull by the horn and sensitize the public on issues that affect the nation, noting that the only way to ensure people are been carried along is to sensitize the public, as most people are ignorant of policies that have been made.
On his part, Chairman PENGASSAN Port Harcourt Zone, Comrade Peter Onita, maintained that the country will be said to be democratic when political parties are held accountable for failure to work in accordance with their parties’ constitution and for not doing what they are supposed to do.
He further noted that INEC as a body created by law to supervise all electioneering processes should learn to bark and bite those political parties who have refused to do the right thing which is to follow the norms of their parties’ constitution.
Onita, however, urged the public to get their permanent voters’ card as it is the only tool to vote in democratic leaders into power.
“For a start, political parties’ constitution should be respected and held accountable when they are unable to do what they are supposed to do. INEC should learn to bark and bite then, people will learn lessons, and autocratic leaders will learn lessons same as those who have refused to follow the norms of their political parties will also learn lessons.
“In Nigeria, we have the privilege to do what is right, the people should participate more in the election, when a collective decision is made on the right person to vote into leadership, it will help to reset the mindset of those leaders who are of the character of always doing the wrong into doing the right thing.
“Whether democracy will be sustained in the country depends on us all, to move the nation forward we must not leave electioneering process in the hands of politicians, those in government or those who think politics and politicking is their heritage”.
