A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has lamented that the country’s democracy is not working for the majority of the citizens.
Mr Dogara made the lamentation while delivering a lecture on the topic: “Democracy and the Free Market Economy in Lagos.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Turaki Hassan, Mr Dogara identified poverty as a significant threat to democracy in the country.
Mr Dogara said: “Our democracy is not working for the majority of our citizens. Although they are alive and free, they lack the means to pursue happiness.
“Poverty is a greater threat to democracy than weak institutions because it deprives poor citizens of their political voice and prevents them from holding their governments accountable; shattering public trust in democratic institutions.”
Mr Dogara, who represented the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa Federal Constituency for 16 years, highlighted the importance of utilising democratic rights to build an inclusive economy that empowers the majority of Nigerians to reach their full potential.
He added that, “staying engaged, as we are doing today, is one way to make our democracy work.”
“Poverty, though experienced by individuals, is created by parlous systems that fail to protect citizens’ rights to a decent standard of living.”
Citing examples from other countries, Mr Dogara said, “After 40 years of policy implementation and effective governance, China has successfully lifted 770 million of its citizens out of poverty.
“Similarly, India has lifted nearly 250 million people out of multidimensional poverty. With purposeful leadership, Nigeria can achieve that.”
