Former Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has decried the state of Nigeria’s democracy, saying it has suffered untold setbacks, which is burdened by leadership failure.

In a post via his official X handle, Obi said the dearth in the nation’s democracy has brought about uncontrolled systemic corruption, high level of insecurity, lack of freedom of speech, increasing poverty and unprecedented levels of hunger and hardship.

He stated this on the commemoration of the International Democracy Day, stressing that the day reminds Nigeria the need to uphold the tenets of democracy.

The former Anambra State Governor enjoined political leaders to pause and examine the country’s democratic journey and strive to build the nation on the solid rock of true democracy where every Nigerian is given a voice and a fair hearing, irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation.

“Democracy in Nigeria has continued to suffer untold setbacks, heavily burdened by leadership failure which has brought about uncontrolled systemic corruption, high levels of insecurity, lack of freedom of speech, increasing poverty and unprecedented levels of hunger and hardship.

“These problems have not only remained unsolved but are growing geometrically. The democratic ideals of the nation have, sadly, continued to erode with time, and today, we can be classified as a captured state where the citizens have continued to suffer untold hardship, deprivation and insecurity while the political leadership feasts on state resources .

“In every measurement of true democracy, we have continued to rank low and perform badly, signalling a critical deficiency in our democratic system,” he tweeted.