Delta residents decry huge gap between rich, poor on Democracy Day

Delta State residents on Friday voiced deep concerns about the stark disparity between the wealthy and the poor in Nigeria, a situation they feel contradicts the promises of leaders since 1999. The comments coincided with the nation's 27th Democracy Day, marking uninterrupted democratic rule.

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Things are very difficult; people are barely surviving. The economic situation is troubling. The high cost of food and drugs is enormous. The government needs to improve its economic indicators. Insecurity is on the rise, and mass abduction is daily. What then is the function of the government?

Public affairs analyst Emeke Johnson emphasized the need to strengthen democratic institutions, ensure judicial independence, uphold the separation of powers, and implement electoral reforms. He urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently address pressing national issues, particularly insecurity and the struggling economy. "People are barely surviving. The economic situation is troubling," Johnson stated, highlighting the "enormous" cost of food and drugs and questioning the government's role amid rising insecurity and daily abductions.

Commercial motorcyclist Kevwe Ogbo echoed these sentiments, arguing that democracy has not benefited the masses. He pointed to pervasive insecurity, "astronomical" prices of goods, and poor power supply, noting that the fuel price had reached N1,400 per liter. "The money I make daily can no longer feed my family. What is there to celebrate?" he asked.

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There is insecurity everywhere, and prices of goods are astronomical. Power supply is terrible. The fuel price is N1,400 a litre. The money I make daily can no longer feed my family. What is there to celebrate?

Roseline Ugbaja, a teacher, acknowledged the Delta State Government's efforts in road rehabilitation and praised infrastructural development nationwide. However, she noted that despite eased transportation costs due to road repairs, the high cost of living, particularly medications, remains a burden. Ugbaja also stressed the importance of credible elections in 2027, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure votes count and restore public confidence in the electoral process.

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The road leading to my house used to be in a terrible state, but the state government recently repaired it. It has eased our sufferings and reduced the cost of transportation. However, the cost of living is still high. I can barely afford my medications. Government needs to come to our aid.

Monday Nkeonye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for fulfilling promises and bringing development through the M.O.R.E Agenda. He urged citizens to be patient, believing that the current economic hardships would eventually subside as government policies yield results.

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A credible election is the hallmark of democracy. INEC needs to ensure that our votes count. It should restore Nigerians’ confidence in our electoral process. That is the only way to ensure that democracy will continue to thrive.