There is no democracy in Nigeria, we’ve civilian dictatorship – Martin Onovo

A notable stakeholder in the Nigerian project, Engr. Martin Onovo, 2015 Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party, NCP; Head Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change; in this interview with NATIONAL DAILY Newspaper, declares that there is no democracy in Nigeria, 26 years after the 1999 transition, saying that what we have is civilian dictatorship. He asserts there are two pillars of democracy – the rule of law and the integrity of the ballot – but that both are absent in Nigeria. Onovo spoke also on the economy, security, among others.

How would you evaluate the workings of democracy in Nigeria, 26 years after?

It is clearly false to claim that there is democracy in Nigeria. Democracy is government in line with the directions of the people.

There are two pillars of democracy, the rule of law and the integrity of the ballot. Both are absent in Nigeria.

Lawlessness has displaced the rule of law while the fraud of INEC has displaced the integrity of the ballot. Votes do not count.

There is no democracy in Nigeria. What we have is a civilian dictatorship.

Would you say Nigerians have got the leadership they deserve to provide good governance and drive development? 

Our laws are clear. A person without the minimum qualification of WAEC or its equivalent is not qualified to be a candidate for presidency in Nigeria. A person without the highest number of lawful votes cannot be president. A person that has been fined for a criminal breach cannot be a candidate for presidency in Nigeria.

There were controversies that Jagaban Tinubu does not have a WAEC certificate or its equivalent. There were also reports and petitions that Jagaban Tinubu forfeited $460,000.00 proceeds of narcotics trafficking in Chicago.

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Martin Onovo lamenting the woes of bad governance in Nigeria

There is wide perceptions that Jagaban Tinubu lost the elections. Provisional poll units results showed that he lost in his Bourdillon Street. He lost in Aso Rock. He lost woefully in the FCT. He lost in his home state, Osun. He lost miserably in his State of residence, Lagos.

Many were of the view that he was a distant third but INEC declared results in his favour, and the Supreme Court validated the results, challenged by opponents to be fraudulent.

So, Nigerians did not get the leadership they deserve. INEC imposed him on us.

Such leadership cannot provide good governance because good governance requires moral integrity, medical fitness and mental capability.

How would you evaluate the management of the economy under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu?

Very clearly, currently there is no management of the Nigerian economy. What we have is audacious incompetence and corruption.

The consequences of the incompetence and corruption are terrible. We have named them, ‘The Terrible Tinubu Tragedies’.

We have seen the distortion of public morality; the celebration of lawlessness and impunity; the extolling of incompetence and corruption, etc.

Consequently, unemployment is unprecedented; inflation is unprecedented, total national debt is unprecedented, insecurity is unprecedented and extreme poverty is widespread.

The Nigerian economy has dropped from the largest economy in Africa to the fourth largest.

Similarly, Nigeria with a current GDP per capita of $1,110 has dropped to the thirty-third position in Africa based on GDP per-capita. What a disgraceful performance.

Nigeria is a failed State. Yes, Nigeria is a failed State, unable to maintain control of our territory, unable to feed our citizens, unable to pay our debts, unable to enforce our laws and unable to protect our citizens.

Would you consider the current inflation rate of 34.6% to reflect the realities
of the increasingly high prices in Nigeria?

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As previously stated, current inflation situation in Nigeria is unprecedented. In just a few months, family size bread has moved from N500 to N2,000. That is a 300% increase. One egg has moved from N60 to N300.That is a 400% increase.

The “incompetence and corruption” of the ad hoc Tinubu regime is untenable.  This is the worst regime ever.

The Gen. Abacha regime is a thousand times better than this.

The Abacha regime maintained the exchange rate between N82/$ to N84/$ for five  years.

Gen. Abacha did not borrow recklessly and in unpatriotic manner.

Gen. Abacha maintained a high level of security and complete control of Nigerian territory.

Gen. Abacha did not submit Nigeria to the control of imperialists and neo-colonialists.

Gen. Abacha did not bring GMO s and toxic vaccines to poison our people.

What do you think in a situation where the annual budget continues to increase, yet, citizens suffer hardship in the country?

The increase in the annual budget is not for the security and welfare of Nigerians. It is for corruption, political manipulations and lobbying, vain glamour, waste and lavish luxuries for our corrupt rulers.

So, the hardship continues for citizens.

Would you say the government has managed the surplus revenue from the petrol subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu in the interest of Nigerians?

The ad hoc Tinubu regime runs on the basis of the ‘Emi l’ okan ploy of Jagaban Tinubu.

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The ‘Emi l’ okan’ ploy is founded on extreme selfishness and lawlessness that are contrary to the interest of Nigerians. So, the ad hoc Tinubu regime cannot manage any revenue in the interest of Nigerians.

This can be seen in the lawless and corrupt contract for the 47.5km Lagos Coastal Road. The contract was corruptly awarded outside the budget, to Jagaban Tinubu’s business partner in violation of our
procurement and other laws and at N1.06 trillion (over ten times the cost).

What is your assessment of the Tinubu reform, essentially, in the oil and gas sector?

There is no real reform. What we have is incompetence and corruption.

The fight against insecurity in Nigeria, do you think President Bola Tinubu is making progress in this regard?

We do not think so. From the report of the NBS on insecurity, it is clear that insecurity is unprecedented while incompetence and corruption are being celebrated.

How would you rate the Tinubu administration in the fight against corruption?

It may not be realistic to expect the ad hoc Tinubu regime that promotes corruption to fight their corruption. As rightly proposed by Dr. Garus Gololo of the ruling party, the ad hoc Tinubu regime must be probed immediately it leaves office.