Nigeria’s Democracy Dangerously Drifting To Precipice, Groups Warn

Political pressure groups have warned that Nigeria is dangerously drifting into chaos following what they called economic hardship and deliberate weakening of democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying the trend might truncate democratic governance in the country if it continues.

At a media briefing in Lagos organized by groups under the aegis of The Big Tent, The Concerned Professionals, The Restoration Group and The Movement for Credible Elections, Prof Patrick Utomi said, “I feel quite sad that I have to address you again on matters bordering on national crisis in the polity that threatens the peace and good government of Nigeria.”

The political economist and public affairs analyst in his address tagged, “Time To Save Nigeria: Again, Statement on the Looming Clouds of the End of Democracy in Nigeria,” said they are alerting Nigerians to, “a pattern of destabilisation of political parties with the use of judiciary capture, the reducing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to an extension of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and manipulation of the security of the vote through abuse of institutions of public authority.

“These have created despondency among many and voter apathy across the country as highlighted by recent elections and Afrobarometer surveys. Many are convinced we are on a march towards totalitarianism and one man rule. We have come to recognize that to save our democracy is a task that must be done.”

Dwelling on the state of the nation, Utomi said the country has been falling deeper and deeper into debt and borrowing more as if it were in a debt Ponzi scheme.

He said, “Propagandising the illusion of progress has clearly not worked. Stabilisation policies have as a goal enabling debt repayment. It was achieved with SAP but ruined education and healthcare where we had made significant gains. They are doing it again and getting applause from the same people who reminded us last week that 130 million of us are in debilitating poverty. Recall the remarks about the current state of poverty by the World Bank last week.

“Misery dominates our land. Widows are crushed by the burden of survival, children are eating off trash bins and multitudes are homeless and battling mental health consequences of our misery index, yet people who have no solutions to our problems belch apre mois le deluge. There will not be disaster when the people chase them out.

“As massacres like that of Palm Sunday on the plateau add to the pain in the land, the machine politicians see a routing at the polls and are trying to cause devastation in the land in their desperation. We must not allow them.”

He called on Nigerians to join hands and save their country from descent to anarchy.