LP relying on track record.. other parties depend on wealth, power

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), says democracy must be shaped by the aspirations and interests of the citizenry.

Baba-Ahmed said the party is relying on the track record of its candidates to convince Nigerians to vote for them in the 2023 elections.

He said other parties are banking on their pecuniary resources, adding that they are “swimming in an ocean of wealth and power”.

Baba-Ahmed spoke on Tuesday in an interview with Channels TV.

Defending his political and leadership background alongside that of Peter Obi, the LP presidential candidate, he said: “Labour Party candidates, assume I am not the only one speaking, are driven by their records. They are stepping on what they have succeeded in to attempt to lead Nigeria.

“Other candidates, I don’t have to mention their names, are swimming in the ocean of wealth and power and so they want to rule Nigeria.”

He attributed the “sad and questionable” state of democracy to the decisions of individuals and small groups, adding that the will of the people has been absent in past elections.

“It is very sad that what you keep hearing (about) endlessly are the three arms of government in a democratic government,” he said.

“One, democracy must not be about individuals or small groups or any group for that matter. It must be about a political entity for it to qualify as democratic. It should be about national and bigger interests.

“Two, the aspirations and the desires and the will of the people must reflect in their elections… which means we are yet to meet the second philosophical condition of democracy.

“The third one is that, as provided in the constitution, the people must hold power, on whose behalf the elected government exercises authority. What you have now is that government, once elected or they impose themselves, they hold the power and exercise the authority.

“So, condition two is not there and condition three is questionable.”

Baba-Ahmed said the interactions between the LP presidential candidate and the public is beginning to ease tensions across the country, adding that Peter Obi’s candidacy is giving hope and uniting Nigerians

“There is a lot of hope for better life, for better security… and the single most important factor uniting Nigeria is the candidacy of Peter Obi,” he said.

On improving the country’s security situation, the LP’s vice-presidential candidate said his principal’s government, when elected, will “account for every square meter of Nigeria,” adding that in doing this, the administration will recruit more security agents with an emphasis on law enforcement.