From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has declared that at his age, nothing would make him draw back from speaking truth to power.
This is even as he regretted that democracy in Nigeria is currently under state capture.
Senator Wabara in a message marking his 77th birthday anniversary, said anyone at his age “that is still afraid of speaking the truth without fear or favour, is a complete disappointment to his generation”.
Wabara, born on June 1, 1948, further said that “any nation without courageous men who can boldly speak truth to power, is doomed”.
He noted that “leaders become tyrants in the absence of vocal patriots who can stand with the people and point at the right direction.”
He expressed worry over the suppression of dissenting voices and the opposition in Nigeria, adding that democracy cannot thrive without credible opposition.
Wabara advised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), not to use the apparatus of state to muzzle the opposition, stressing that for any democracy to thrive, the opposition must be given a free hand to operate.
He warned of the grave dangers of allowing Nigeria slide into one-party state, describing those behind the current drift towards one-party state as “anti-democratic forces and the real enemies of Nigeria’s democracy.”
Wabara said votes must be made to count in 2027 by making electronic transmission of election results compulsory, and through mandatory use of BIVAS.