…Says accountability has collapsed
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC), has lamented Nigeria’s democracy backward sliding with the collapse of accountable governance, as the nation marks another Democracy Day.
Rafsanjani also pointed out that there is widespread voter apathy and growing distrust in the electoral system.
In a statement on Thursday, he said: “In Nigeria, democracy is backsliding because of the frightening collapse of responsible, transparent and accountable governance under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the nation marks Democracy Day and 26 years of continuous democratic governance.
“Right now, the nation’s democratic institutions are at their weakest points and consistently failing the people, while authoritarian tendencies continue to rise. Failure of leadership, erosion of public trust, rising corruption, impunity, compromised electoral processes, and shrinking civic space are some of the key indicators of deliberate undermining of democratic values.
“Political leaders must retrace their steps to safeguard the democratic rule that was fiercely fought for. Instead of building on the gains of democratic rule of the past, the country is regressing into a governance model defined by unaccountable leadership, weak institutions, killings and absolute exclusion of citizens from decision-making.
“There is widespread voter apathy and growing distrust in the electoral system. Political parties lack ideology and discipline, functioning merely as platforms for elite bargains and transactional personal gains”.
He also added that there is “the urgent need for electoral and political party reforms to restore public trust in Nigeria’s democratic processes. “While anti-corruption efforts at the federal level are frequently touted, CISLAC is deeply troubled by the pervasive and largely unchecked corruption at the state level.
“Many state governors operate without transparency, supported by compromised state assemblies and an almost total lack of oversight. We must decentralise anti-corruption efforts and empower state-level institutions to function independently”, he stated.
According to Rafsanjani, “The judiciary is also under pressure, as delays in access to justice, conflicting court judgments, and perceived political interference continue to undermine the rule of law.
“Despite repeated promises, insecurity continues unabated. Citizens are not safe, and the government has yet to present a coherent national security strategy that addresses both symptoms and root causes.
“The Federal Government must adopt a people-centred security approach that prioritizes civilian protection and addresses long-standing causes of conflict”, he said.
CISLAC called for reforms to rescue Nigeria’s democratic future, “As Nigeria celebrates another Democracy Day, CISLAC stressed the need for concrete, deliberate, and far-reaching reforms to rescue the country’s democratic project.
“Democracy is more than elections. It must demonstrate good governance, strong institutions, protection of rights, and active civic participation.
“We call on the Nigerian government to end the ongoing repression, embrace people-oriented reforms, and restore the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system”, it stated.
