Despite concerns over democracy in Africa, Nigeria has been hailed as a “Democracy Destination undergoing democratic consolidation,” countering claims by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Anambra Governor Peter Obi that democracy is declining.
Director General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Comrade Issa Aremu, dismissed what he termed a “new democracy-pessimism fad,” arguing that those criticizing the system once benefited from it. Speaking in Ilorin and Kaduna, Aremu emphasized that Nigeria’s democratic structure, featuring 19 political parties, nearly 93.5 million registered voters, and seven presidential elections since 1999, remains robust.
He criticized Obasanjo and Obi for what he called a “bring-down-what-I-cannot-control syndrome,” asserting that democracy thrives even when certain figures are out of power. Aremu cited Namibia’s peaceful transition to its first female president and Senegal’s recent election of a young leader as evidence that democracy is alive in Africa.
Calling for more democracy rather than skepticism, Aremu stressed the need for political quality control and urged military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to restore civilian rule. He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a reformer, backing his potential re-election bid in 2027, citing his pro-labor policies, including the approval of a ₦758 billion bond to clear pension arrears.
Source: Swifteradio.com
