Former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said Nigeria’s democracy, though under pressure, remains intact, describing the country’s Fourth Republic as tested, strained, but not broken.
Saraki spoke on Thursday at the Daily Trust Dialogue, where he cautioned that the survival of democracy alone should not be mistaken for success if it fails to improve the lives of citizens.
According to him, Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999 has shown resilience, with notable gains such as peaceful transfers of power, freedom of expression, media diversity, and the role of civil society and the judiciary in checking excesses at different times.
However, he stressed that longevity without impact is meaningless.
“The Fourth Republic has survived, but survival is not enough. Nigerians expect democracy to deliver in security, governance, economic opportunity, and justice,” Saraki said.
He urged Nigerians to honestly assess what is working and what is failing in the democratic system, noting that continuity without quality is empty.
He further highlighted the need to strengthen institutions, including the judiciary, anti-corruption systems, and the electoral process.
He stressed that constructive criticism should be encouraged and not treated as hostility to the state.
