News Investigators/ Kola Ajayi, former Chairman of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Lagos State, has expressed concern that Nigeria’s democracy has yet to fully serve the interests of the people, particularly the poor and marginalised.
Mr Ajayi made the remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, during the commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
NAN reports that the election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history, was won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola but was annulled on June 23, 1993, by then military ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida(Rtd).
The Federal Government has since declared June 12 as Democracy Day, in recognition of the significance of that historic election.
“The democracy we have here only smiles on the few privileged individuals, the elites and the rich, it hasn’t focused attention on the people.
“Abraham Lincoln rightly defined democracy as the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“The practitioners have not allowed the wealth of the nation to trickle down to the man and woman in the remotest villages.
“Their struggles and pains have continued 32 years down the line and still counting.
“If our democracy will be democracy, votes will count and the happiness of the majority of the people will be the priority and focus,” Ajayi said.
He, however, noted that given the challenging situation the incumbent government found itself, its policy redirection was a step in the right direction.
Mr Ajayi urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to ensure that its policies had a positive impact on ordinary Nigerians.
He emphasised the need for government policies to reflect a human-centered approach.
“Especially in light of the daily struggles faced by the poor masses, who he said were being severely affected by high inflation and an increasingly harsh economic environment.
“A more empathetic approach would greatly benefit the most vulnerable citizens,” he said.
NAN
