Chief Akin Ricketts.
By Anietie Akpan
A former commissioner of Information in Cross River State and a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Akin Ricketts, has taken a swipe on Nigeria’s fledgling democratic journey, saying “it is a classic case of motion without movement”.
There is nothing to celebrate about in our democracy, he said noting that outside the celebrations and self eulogies by political office holders, those occasions should actually have provided opportunity for a sober reflection and for sincere and deep introspection of the democratic journey so far,by true Democrats.
While casting doubts on our fledgling democracy, Ricketts who is the Convener, “Concerned Cross River State Forum”, raised five pertinent questions that are begging for answers.
In statement made available to Pillar Today Ricketts in his words: “Apart from the periodic four years elections cycle, are the democratic tenets taking sustainable roots in the country?” He queried.
“Are the political parties striving towards establishing recognisable ideological patterns?
“Is the internal democracy within political parties getting institutionalised? Are political representatives of the people truly accountable to the electorates?
“Are party manifestos implemented by winners of elections or do they just do what catches their fancies once they assume office?”
Ricketts, the Obol Mkpoli 1of Ugep kingdom in Yakurr Local Government Area of the State said, “these and many more are the questions that should agitate the minds of true Democrats as we observe the annual hollow rituals of 29th May and June 12 democracy Day celebrations”.
“For most of us who joined the political movement with so much enthusiasm with burning desires to advance democratic tenets”, he said, “the democratic journey has become progressively depressing .
“Internal Party democracy has gone. Imposition of candidates is commonplace. There is no accountability by elected officials.
“In the present dispensation, after two years, there does not seem to be any visible and tangible achievement that inspires hope”.
The much celebrated local Government autonomy seems to have ended with the supreme court pronouncements.
The presidency and the governors seem to have reached a mutually beneficial compromise to maintain the status quo for their electoral security in 2027.
The Former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority and Senatorial candidate of the APC in the the Cntral Senatorial District of State in the 2019 general elections, submitted that, “for our democracy to grow and give hope to the younger generation, the enlightenment of the electorates to participate and take ownership of the democratic process must be a matter of state policy. Only an enlightened and fully involved electorate can hold political office holders to account and engender true democratic practices”.
On the occasion of this midterm evaluation of our elected officials, therefore, he said, “we are advocating for more participation of our youths,women and indeed every members of our various communities in the democratic process.
“Our democracy, hopefully, has come to stay and we can only sustain it by getting a majority of our people to participate in the democratic process as we urge elected officials to redouble their efforts and extend democratic dividends to the people”
