Dr. Obinna Warns Against Threats To Nigeria's Multi-Party Democracy

Former SDP AMAC Chairmanship Candidate and NDC Chieftain, Dr. Obinna Simon, has expressed concern over what he described as growing threats to Nigeria's multi-party democracy, urging citizens to remain vigilant in defending democratic values and institutions.

In a statement released on Monday, Dr. Obinna noted that one of the defining strengths of Nigeria's democratic journey has been its political pluralism, recalling that previous administrations under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and the late Muhammadu Buhari did not deregister political parties through executive action or attempt to eliminate opposition parties from the political landscape.

He observed that many Nigerians are increasingly worried about what they perceive as mounting pressure on opposition parties and democratic institutions, describing the development as troubling.

According to him, it is particularly disappointing to some citizens that a president widely celebrated for his role in Nigeria's pro-democracy struggle is now presiding over a period in which such concerns have intensified.

Dr. Obinna stressed that the country's democratic struggle was founded on the principle that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," noting that the ideals of the pro-democracy movement were instrumental in restoring civilian rule.

He argued that whenever those democratic principles appear to be compromised in the pursuit of political power, citizens have a responsibility to speak out and defend the nation's democratic heritage.

"The history of every generation will be judged by whether it protected democracy or remained silent when it was tested," he stated.