Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate democratic integrity by following the examples set by former Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.
In his Democracy Day message on June 12, Obi urged Tinubu to reflect on Yar’Adua’s humility in acknowledging the flawed electoral process that led to his presidency and Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat for the sake of national unity and democratic stability.
Obi stated, “President Yar’Adua showed uncommon honesty by admitting the election that brought him to power lacked credibility and took steps to strengthen the democratic system. Similarly, President Goodluck Jonathan preserved our democracy by peacefully conceding defeat, even before final results were announced.”
Addressing the broader state of Nigeria’s democracy, the former Anambra governor expressed deep concern about what he described as growing authoritarianism, disregard for the rule of law, and the erosion of institutional checks and balances.
He said, “Today, Nigeria cannot genuinely be described as a democracy. The foundational elements of a democratic society—transparency, rule of law, and participation by the people—are either weakened or missing altogether.”
Obi criticized the current administration, accusing it of prioritizing propaganda and narrative manipulation over genuine progress and accountability.
“In the past two years, instead of addressing the country’s challenges with honesty and responsibility, the government has relied on misinformation, blame games, and the abuse of power,” he said.
He also decried the trend where electoral processes are disregarded, allowing unqualified individuals to occupy public office, further undermining public trust in governance.
Concluding his remarks, Obi emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to return to true democratic values rooted in transparency, accountability, and justice, urging the current leadership to lead with integrity for the sake of the country’s future.
