Entertainers condemn Democracy Day celebrations, say poverty, hunger, insecurity, corruption still ravaging nation

Banky

 This year’s Democracy Day, May 29, has come and gone, but many angry and disappointed entertainers whose views and opinions SHOWBIZPLUSng gathered, said there was nothing worth celebrating in the land as massive corruption, looting, hunger, poverty, unemployment, insecurity, bad leadership and other societal ills are still plaguing our country.

Below are their reactions:

Banky W (Musician)

So far, it has not served the interest of the Nigerian people. According to Pat Utomi, Nigeria’s current democracy is a government of politicians, by politicians, for politicians. The interest of Nigerian people is nowhere in the agenda of Nigerian politicians.

Bukky Wright (Actress)

There is no democracy because there is no respect for human rights; the law does not rule. There is a breakdown of law and order. Today our President has demonstrated incompetence and lack of ability to rule the country. That is why he sent for foreign assistance. If you look at how our country has fared in the last 15 years, you’ll see that there is nothing to celebrate.

Wande Coal (Musician)

I feel we should celebrate without sober reflection because it is not sober reflection that brings about change but critical analysis. How long do we want to be sober? We cannot be mourning all the time. Democratic structures take many years to build.

Burna Boy (Musician)

For me, I feel there should be no celebrations.  There should be no fanfare but sober reflection on our road so far. What happened to the schoolgirls abducted in Chibok is part of the imperfection of our democracy because to allow a group of terrorists to grow and overwhelm a whole country endangers that democracy. In fact, our democracy is in danger. We should reflect on that and think of ways of resolving the problem of truncated democracy so that we can recover and continue to grow.

Tiwa Savage (Musician)

There is nothing to celebrate. There is insecurity everywhere, loss of hope. This is not the democracy we fought for from 1993 to 1999. People are still going to bed hungry despite the huge resources God has spread across the land. The education system has collapsed; the polytechnics and colleges of education are still on strikes.

Sossick (Producer)

I personally feel we have not developed that democratic culture that would make our people beat their chest and say we are under a democracy. We are in civil rule but we need that transit to democracy.

Jaywon (Musician)

They should stop lying to us. There is no democracy. They lie to Nigerians. The political process is for their personal interest to be advanced. That kind of democratic structure is not sustainable.

DJ Spin'all (Disc Jockey)

For Nigeria, Democracy Day may be an exaggeration because we have not really enjoyed democracy since 1999. If we are to be called a democratic nation, I will call it an illiberal democracy, meaning that it is a democracy without the real democratic culture but just our democracy limping along the road.

Gandoki (Comedian)

There is mass unemployment, children are angry, women are angry, everybody is angry in Nigeria. There is abuse of the rule of law and abuse of human rights. The Chibok girls are still there.

Ajibade Oyemade (OAP/Comedian)

Poverty in 1999 was not as bad as what it is now. Today the poverty rate has risen to 76 per cent. Quality of life has dropped considerably for most Nigerians. I believe May 29 is just a ritual that politicians observe. So no democracy for me.