June 12: There’s nothing to celebrate – Falana

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has said Nigerians have nothing to celebrate on June 12, Democracy Day. 

Falana stated this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

He said that things were getting tougher, as the masses are suffering and hungry.

Falana said, “Despite the suffering in the land, the government keeps on telling the people to exercise patience. This has been the language of the government for over forty years. We are always there when there is light at the end of the tunnel. But instead of things getting better for the masses, things are getting tougher.

“That is why the celebration of this year’s democracy day was by a tiny section of the population, the political office holders, but the majority of our people who are wallowing in poverty have nothing to celebrate.

“Next time we are going to celebrate June 12 – Democracy Day – people must be empowered. Our people must be empowered economically, politically and free them from detention. Allow the laws that have made the legal detention of citizens to work.”

However, Falana dismissed the proposed 6-year single term for president.

He said public office holders in the country have refused to allow the system to work.

He said, “Operators of the system are not allowing the local governments to function. 19 states have imposed caretaker committees to run the local government system in Nigeria contrary to section 7(1) of the constitution that stipulates.

“Secondly the money earmarked for the local government by virtue of section 162 of the constitution is being diverted. Opposition political parties no longer contest local government elections in Nigeria because the results are already known. Yet the Supreme Court in not less than five cases has held that no local government in Nigeria should be run by a caretaker committee or sole administrator.

“So the guys in power are not allowing the system to work . So when they are suggesting a 6-year term these are not the issues. Can we conduct good elections? Can we predict the results of elections in Nigeria? We had elections last year with a lot of challenges. Have we addressed them?”