TheCable

Shehu Sani, lawmaker representing Kaduna central senatorial district, says Nigeria’s democracy is under threat.

The senator said contributing as a threat to the nation’s democracy is the mass killings in some parts of the country, particularly north-central and north-west.

Hundreds have been killed in Nigeria this year alone in crisis situations.

Among the causes of the deaths are clashes and attacks involving herdsmen and farmers/host communities, armed robbery, attacks by bandits among others.

Writing on his Facebook page on Friday, the senator also said the “disorderliness” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — his party — and the “timidity” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), “compromised” and “subservient” states assemblies also constitute threats to the nation’s democracy.

He added that “emperor” governors in the country “operating above the laws” and “onslaught” against the national assembly perceived as opposition also endanger the nation’s democracy.

He also said these “threats” include the “deodorant and insecticide style anti-corruption crusade” in the country and the “dubious national objection to hate speech that shields people in position of power and targets ordinary Nigerians.”

The other factors “threatening” the nation’s democracy, according to Sani, include: “Increasing spate of insurgents guerrilla attacks in the north-east, the abductions and the plight of the abducted, violations of freedom of speech and increasing intolerance to contrary political views, peaceful dissent and peaceful protest.”

Others are “religious bigotry and rise of ethnic nationalism, disobedience to court orders and resistance to rule of law on the alter of political exigencies, unaddressed perception of nepotism and favoritism and public perception of credibility and moral problems of members of the parliament over corruption issues and patented as self serving.”

Also included are “public perception of a tyrannical and autocratic president contemptuous of democratic values,surrounded by a vicious cabal, arbitrariness and increasing lawlessness of security agencies and docile and pliant civil society.”

Sani had once said Nigeria’s democracy is “on crutches.”

All arms of Government nowadays habitually defies court orders;The FG,NASS,Political parties,the Police,Security services,The Military & Governors;or they cherrypick the one to obey.Oath of office to respect the constitution has become a Quaker Oats.Democracy on crutches.

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) May 13, 2018