By Peter Amine
The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau Chapter, Rev. Fr. Polycap Lubo, has scored the country’s unbroken democracy 50 per cent.
Lubo, who spoke with newsmen on Wednesday in Jos, said that with the advent of democracy, Nigerians ushered in an era of freedom where people could speak their minds and contribute to society.
The CAN chairman stated that with the arrival of democracy, we have seen relative development and increased freedom of worship and speech, which were scarce during the military regime in which Nigerians were ruled by decree.
The cleric pointed out that on the return to democracy in 1999, most leaders were former military men who transitioned to civilian roles.
He said that the country is now led by a pure civilian, President Bola Tinubu.
“Structurally, Nigeria has developed, with visible improvements in infrastructure like roads.
“However, I would rate our democracy at about 50 per cent. True development takes time, and while there are some improvements, if the people’s standard of living does not improve, the benefits of democracy will not be fully realized.
“When people have better wages, access to food, healthcare, and good roads, they will appreciate these developments more.
“The recent removal of the oil subsidy, though planned, has caused significant economic hardship.
“While we enjoy democracy, it progresses slowly and steadily.
Eventually, we will reach a point where we have a better society,” he said.
Lubo further said security is a major concern, especially with the current levels of poverty.
According to him, economic hardship has led to increased crimes such as kidnapping and banditry.
He recalled that in the 1990s, the issues were virtually unknown, but the situation has escalated in recent times.
The security apparatus in Nigeria needs significant improvement.
“For instance, if Americans were kidnapped in Nigeria and their government could come in and rescue them within hours, this highlights our security deficiencies.
“Nigerian security agencies need to upgrade their tracking capabilities.
If apps like Uber can track movements, our security forces should be able to locate kidnappers.
“There appears to be some level of compromise within our security system because effective tracking technology should prevent kidnappers from eluding capture.
