By Okechukwu Jombo, Abuja
Leader of the Seventh Senate and former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba has raised the alarm that the country’s democratic space is shrinking by the day.
Sen. Ndoma-Egba said this yesterday in Abuja during the book launch ‘Media, Politics and Power’ written by Dr. Emeka Nwosu, which he chaired.
According to him this development has led to what he called ‘delegated democracy’ as the democratic rights of the citizens had been surrendered to the chief executives who now exercise it on their behalf.
His words; “Today in every state, everyone is waiting for their governors to speak on every issue before they queue up. At the centre, the same goes.”
“Moreover, the Senate and the Federal Executive Council are fast becoming retirement homes for Governors. The space for every other person to participate is fast shrinking.”
He further remarked that the nation’s dysfunctional so-called federal yet unitary state and its inherent contradictions have stifled development, adding that restructuring is now inevitable.
Ndoma-Egba said that the competition for the monopoly of violence between the state and non-state actors along with corruption are all evidence of ‘an inefficient structure. Since every situation reinforces itself our situation will get only worse until we do something drastic and dramatic’.
He also frowned at the continuous in road corruption that is making in our body politic. According to him, ‘The dollarization of our choice making process confirms that corruption has become supreme’.
Ndoma-Egba expressed concern that the country is in dire straits and challenged the elite to forge a consensus for the Nigeria of our dreams.
The book was presented by immediate past Senate Minority leader, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, who in his remarks urged the author not to rest on his oars by writing more books,
