A group known as Northern Awareness Network, NAN, has lambasted the Labour Party, presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, over his comments on the just concluded South African elections.
Recall that the former Anambra State Governor had in a statement described the South African election as a shining example of what a transparent process should look like.
Obi disclosed this in a post via his X handle on Saturday.
Making a comparative analysis between Nigeria and the South African elections, Obi said the disparities in the electoral procedures of both nations are regrettable. He stated that the South African election was a reflection of Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with democratic governance.
But reacting to Obi’s statement, the northern group, in a statement by its chairman, Salihu Suleiman, said such comparisons are misleading.
The group maintained that the two nations have vastly different political histories and contexts. Theref0re, making any such comparisons by Obi is misleading.
NAN stated that “South Africa has a long history of democracy. This is even when the South Africa has gone through significant political reform and transformation over several decades of practice. On the other hand, Nigeria only transitioned to democracy in 1999 after years of military rule,” explained Suleiman.
He said, “Obi’s attempt to juxtapose the electoral experiences of the two countries demonstrates a lack of understanding of their respective political landscapes.
“Peter Obi’s attempt to compare the electoral processes of South Africa and Nigeria is quite ridiculous.
“The two countries are at different stages of democratic development. And it would be more prudent to focus on addressing the specific challenges facing the Nigerian electoral system. Rather than drawing unwarranted comparisons,” he said.
NAN explained that the Nigerian electoral system is still in its infancy. Therefore, comparing it to South Africa’s more mature democracy is not only inaccurate but also unfair to the people of Nigeria. A people who has been working diligently to build a functioning democracy.
source: Daily Post
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