Ben Ezechime, Enugu
A chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, has said that the President Bola Tinubu’s government is better than the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as it pertains to the South-East region.
Speaking to the Ikengaonline on June 12 and the democratic experiment in the South-East geopolitical zone, Ogbonnia said that the zone had benefited more from the present administration unlike the Buhari government.
“In the South-East, we are better off in this Tinubu government, for example, the Enugu- Port Harcourt Road has received attention, the signing of South-East Development Commission, and the appointment of Minister of Works from the zone.
“All these have been made possible by the present administration, though more are still needed but by and large it is better than what we had in the last administration under Buhari,” he said.
Ogbonnia, who was the immediate past Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide said that democracy was yet to take firm root in the country.
He urged Nigerian leaders to imbibe the spirit of give and take by carrying all sections of the country along in the true spirit of democracy.
In the same vein, a Constitutional Lawyer and human rights activist, Barrister Onuorah Odoh, has called for electoral and judicial reforms to strengthen democracy in Nigeria.
He described June 12, as “a symbolically significant date in Nigeria’s political history.”
“It symbolises the continuous struggle for democracy and rule of law.
“As we commemorate this day, it’s important we introspect and reflect on the country’s democratic journey.
“At this critical moment in our nation’s history, there’s a need for our leaders to wake up from their blissful slumber and begin to champion and chart a course with a view to advancing our fledgling democracy,” Odoh said.
Also speaking, a security expert, Lt. Col. Aaron Ugwu (rtd), said that security still remained a serious issue in Nigeria, if democracy is to survive in the country.
“As we celebrate June 12 today, we cannot pretend that all is well because as we speak, some states like Benue and Plateau are not celebrating when there are killings in those areas.
“Even here in the South-East, there are killings here and there, in parts of the region, especially in Imo, Anambra and parts of Enugu State; so, the government should do more in the area of securing every part of the country,” he said.
