Kogi activist faults Smart Adeyemi for saying military era better than Nigeria's democracy

Comrade Idris Abdul Maliki, the Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution, CHRCR, has faulted Senator Smart Adeyemi for saying the military era is better than the democracy Nigeria is practising today.

Smart Adeyemi had made the statement while making his contribution to “a bill for an Act to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission and for Other Related matters" on the floor of the senate.

He said, ”Mr. President, when people of questionable character become leaders, then what is the future of that country. In fact, I am compelled to say, military era is better than Nigeria’s democracy currently.

“When you talk about maladministration and misappropriation of public funds, it emanates from people who have criminal records, people who have no background were elected or forced themselves into power.

“Mr. President, this is one of the best bills that we must all support.

“We are living witnesses to bad governance and bad representation in parliament. We must support this bill to bring good people into power, not charlatans, not ragamuffin.

“People who have criminal records come to the National Assembly to make laws."

Reacting to the statement, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan stated that the military era is not better than democracy.

“The position of these chambers is that democracy is better than military era and Senator Adeyemi is entitled to his opinion”

Maliki who reacted to the lawmaker's statement describe dit as unpatriotic. He also advised him to withdraw it for the interest of the rule of law.

He issued a statement saying: “Legislators at all levels globally, nationally and locally, are products of laws and constitutionalism. The democratic process that usher in all elected representatives in Nigeria, of both the executive and Legislators are very fundamental.

“It is worrisome and condemnable for an elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is expected to make laws for the good governance of the Nation, to be comparing Military Administration to Democracy under any guise, frustration and for whatever reasons.

” It is frustrating and demoralizing that despite the immunity enjoyed by Senators on the floor of the Senate, that Senator Smart Adeyemi is making such comparison.

” All Senators must always be living examples and must have sound moral value. How could someone who is a beneficiary of the democratic process like Senator Smart Adeyemi, a third timer to the Senate, make such undemocratic comparison. It is uncalled-for.

“Senator Smart Adeyemi needs to live and represent the democratic values of the people of Kogi West Senatorial District which he was voted to represent, as he was not sent there by himself but with the mandate of the good people of Kogi West.

” He must be seen and heard to be doing everything to promote the respect and dignity of Kogi West senatorial district who sent him to represent them. We call on the people of Kogi West Senatorial District to pay more attention to the Senator as this particular pronouncement represents anti-democratic forces and we call on him to desist forthwith. The people of Nigeria have worked hard to achieve the current democracy which he is a beneficiary”.