Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized democracies suffering from insecurity and unemployment. He expressed these views at an event in Oyo State.
The event was hosted by Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State. Obasanjo was clear in his message that such democracies have no place in society.
โA democracy that nurtures poverty is an abortion,โ he stated. โA democracy that fosters unemployment is a failure.โ
Obasanjo emphasized that the true dividends of democracy must include peace, security, and employment. Without these, he argued, democracy is not serving its purpose.
Editorial
The recent comments by former President Olusegun Obasanjo serve as a crucial warning about the state of democracies. Democracies that fail to provide basic securities like peace and employment are not just flawed; they are failures.
Obasanjoโs words resonate particularly in Nigeria, where insecurity and unemployment are persistent issues. The government must act swiftly to address these challenges.
Failure to do so undermines the democratic system. It also risks the well-being and future of its citizens.
Obasanjoโs remarks are a call to action. They remind us that the essence of democracy is to improve the lives of its citizens. When it fails to do so, it loses its reason for existence.
Did You Know?
- Nigeria is the seventh-most populous country in the world.
- The unemployment rate in Nigeria reached 33.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020.
- Nigeria ranks 146 out of 180 countries in the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index.
- Oyo State, where Obasanjo made his remarks, is one of Nigeriaโs 36 states and was created in 1976.
- Democracy in Nigeria was restored in 1999 after several years of military rule.
