A member of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Lilian Orogbu says there is nothing whatsoever to celebrate as the country marks 25 years of democracy.
The legislator representing the Akwa north/Awka south federal constituency of Anambra, made this remark on the floor of the green chamber on Wednesday while contributing to the debate on Nigeria’s 25 years of unbroken democracy.
Since the country returned to democracy on May 29, 1999, there has been no military takeover like the ones that happened after Nigeria gained independence in 1960.
Orogbu, who is a professor of business administration, pronounced that Nigerians have not enjoyed good governance from the democratic system.
“We are celebrating 25 years of an unbroken democratic system. This celebration is coming to me with so many mixed feelings because Nigerians are all watching us,” she said.
“Those people we are representing are listening to us. How much of this unbroken democracy that we are celebrating today?
“How has it translated to unbroken food security? How has it transformed into unbroken security in the nation? How has it transformed into unbroken security in the nation? How has it transformed into unbroken access to education and access to healthcare, and we are talking of a celebration of democracy?
“Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And it should actually change the lives of our people.
“Our people are hungry back home. To be honest with you, Mr speaker, there is nothing to celebrate. We should be celebrating food security and access to healthcare.”
However, Ben Kalu, the deputy speaker, who presided over the plenary, responded: “Oh, you are saying we should not celebrate democracy?
“Democracy is what is protecting you. Democracy has given you that place where you are standing to represent the people,” Kalu said.
Orogbu, who is a member of Labour Party (LP), said truly she came to the national assembly through democracy, but the system has not benefited her constituents.
“How has it impacted my own people,” she said.
In his own words, Idris Wase, chairman of the committee on federal character, noted that Nigerians have greatly benefited from democracy.
“We are benefiting, and the country is benefiting. In the past, some few persons will sit in a small room and call themselves supreme military council and decide for us what millions are supposed to take decisions on,” Wase said.
“But today it is over. I want to commend our forefathers who worked to ensure that democracy is entrenched in this country. It wasn’t gotten easily. That is why I believe that June 12 is important to us.”