He began by echoing sentiments from Bishop Matthew Kukah, who described democracy as a "work in progress." Obi referenced the democratic transition that began in 1999, noting, "If you look at where we are today, they started in 1999, laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to a decking, and some were trying to raise it to the first floor. And then some came and knocked everything down. That’s the situation we are in now. Everything has been knocked down. Nothing works.”
Drawing from his own experience, Obi shared how he ascended to the governorship of Anambra State through a court ruling during President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration, highlighting the significant difference between past and present political dynamics. “I became a governor through the courts when President Obasanjo and Atiku were in government. I did not pay the court one naira. I was sitting in my house, and the court declared me winner. Nowadays, that can’t happen in Nigeria,” he lamented.
Obi's comments took a critical turn as he addressed recent events in Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials were suspended following a declared state of emergency. This situation prompted Obi to compare his own impeachment ordeal in Anambra. “When I was being impeached, the president sent people to intervene on my behalf. Ken Nnamani came, begging house members not to impeach me. Today, the president is involved in the impeachment of an elected official,” he noted, underscoring a troubling shift in the political landscape.
Reflecting on the support he received during his impeachment struggle, Obi recalled, “Even President Obasanjo called me after my impeachment to check if I was okay. When the courts eventually reinstated me, President Yar’Adua reached out to congratulate me and insisted on ensuring my safe return to Nigeria. Today, the atmosphere is different—there’s a sense of impending danger hanging over the democratic process.”
The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State has sparked significant debate, especially concerning the constitutionality of suspending elected officials. While the presidency defends the action as necessary to avert a larger crisis, many Nigerians, including legal experts and opposition leaders, have voiced strong objections, calling it a blatant disregard for democratic principles.
As Obi rightly pointed out, it is essential for Nigerians to shift the conversation from simply lamenting the current state of democracy to actively engaging in discussions about rebuilding it. With political structures seemingly in disarray, the call for collective action and reform is more pressing than ever. The future of democracy in Nigeria hinges on the willingness of its leaders and citizens to rise to the occasion, advocate for constitutional integrity, and restore faith in the political system.
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