Okogie Accuses Buhari Of Returning Nigeria To Dictatorship

Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi-Okogie has accued the President Muhammadu Buhari government of gradually returning Nigeria to military dictatorship.

The former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria made this known in a statement on Saturday.

The former Catholic Archbishop of Lagos lamented the constant disobedience of court orders by the Buhari administration.

He said, “The painful and sad reality we face is that we live in a country where leaders are very distant from the led. We need leaders who are neither blind to the suffering of the people nor deaf to their cries; leaders who listen to the people, leaders who have the courage to be humble, and who are therefore ready to admit that they are wrong when they are wrong.

“In a democracy, those who govern are chosen by the people to represent the people. And if they are to represent the people, they must listen to the people. Not only do true democrats listen, they also are not afraid of dissenting opinions. They do not arrogate to themselves the power to accuse, arrest, prosecute and convict. But can we candidly say we have democrats at the helm of affairs in this country at this point in time?

“How can we claim to live in a democracy when presidential spokespersons tell us the presidency is always right? It is important to remind our political leaders at the federal, state and local levels of government that they cannot enforce laws if they cannot obey the law.”

Okogie stated that if the executive disobeys court rulings, and if it intimidates and humiliates the judiciary, then Nigeria is back to a military junta.

“We have returned to a sinful past when citizens could be abducted and locked up in detention without trial under the pretext of acting in the interest of national security,” he added.