How Obasanjo, military destroyed democracy in Nigeria by Opadokun on ‘Inside Sources’

Chief Ayo Opadokun, Secretary-General of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), in a scathed criticism of Nigeria’s democratic challenges, has squarely placed blame on the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the military’s intervention of 1966. Opadokun, speaking on Channels TV’s “Inside Sources” with Laolu Akande, on Friday, highlighted the erosion of democratic principles following the military […]

Chief Ayo Opadokun, Secretary-General of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), in a scathed criticism of Nigeria’s democratic challenges, has squarely placed blame on the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the military’s intervention of 1966.

Opadokun, speaking on Channels TV’s “Inside Sources” with Laolu Akande, on Friday, highlighted the erosion of democratic principles following the military era, accusing Obasanjo of perpetuating anti-democratic actions that hindered Nigeria’s progress even while in office as a civilian leader.

Condemning the era of Obasanjo as a democratic president, Opadokun said, “Because we succeeded in pushing the military to the barracks, they went on their own terms and imposed upon us their former commander in chief in the person of General Obasanjo who ruined Nigeria.”

He challenged Obasanjo’s democratic credentials, stating, “Give me just one thing that Obasanjo did to promote democracy, democratization and democratic features in the country.

“Most of what he did was all anti-democracy; directing the shooting at sight of innocent people. And when we caution him that no reasonable investor will bring his money into a country where people can be shot at the sight, he had no regrets.”

Opadokun blamed Obasanjo for the proliferation of Sharia law in northern Nigeria.

“When the man in Zamfara started the Sharia, we told President Obasanjo that the Nigerian law ought not to permit another constitution. He said it was a political Sharia.

“Twelve states in the north took after him . What is the resultant consequence today? We have two laws in some parts of the country, and they could get away with anything,” Opadokun said.

“In fact, the so-called Sharia police could go ahead to destroy the bottles of beer by some people in their different states. And yet the value-added tax that is collected from taking beer, they are very eager to share part of the VAT unashamed. I have never seen a thing like that,” Opadokun lamented.

Opadokun further criticized Obasanjo’s choice of successor, claiming that rather than let democracy thrive, he looked for someone whom he knew was medically challenged. He wanted to govern us by remote control.

“When Obasanjo was going to leave, rather than let democracy to thrive, he looked for someone whom he knew was medically challenged. He wanted to govern us by remote control. And because of that fellow as it would happen, all of us are human beings. It never lasted.

“The man he went to bring at the pain of death. called President Jonathan took over, and because he also would not listen to him, he went on the offensive with him. The next person to govern was another commander-in-chief of the Army called General Buhari. People like me are not deceived at all by our democracy,” the veteran activist said.

Opadokun expressed his disillusionment with Nigeria’s democratic trajectory, stating, “People like me are not deceived at all by our democracy.”

Nigeria straying from the path to progress, lost promise leaves people in despair

Chief Opadokun also expressed grave concerns about Nigeria’s trajectory, regretting that the country’s leadership has since deviated from the path of progress.

Reviewing the country’s state of growth so far, and if there are changes for progress, Opadokun lamented, “I will say regrettably that Nigeria is not on cause. In all ramifications on socio-economic and political matters, rather than being a developing nation, we are an under-developing nation, and Nigeria has been the greatest disappointment to the black race who have looked up to Nigeria till today for leadership.”

He emphasised Nigeria’s potential, stating that Nigeria has been the greatest disappointment to the black race who have looked up to Nigeria till today for leadership.

“We have been an abysmal failure, and we can not provide leadership to the black world. In spite of the fact that Nigeria is endowed with natural and human resources, those who have captured Nigeria as their private enterprise have subverted the hopes and aspirations that Nigerians had at independence,” Opadokun said.

However, Opadokun criticised the military’s role, declaring that the Nigerian Army has been most guilty of all subversions that are taking place in the country.