Chuks Okocha
10 July 2009
Abuja — As President of the United States of America, Barrack Obama' commences his first official visit to Africa, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has written a private letter to him, noting that the country is sliding towards one party state.
CNPP also said corruption and election rigging are undermining the growth of democracy and democratic institutions in Nigeria. This is coming as the Action Congress (AC) said Nigeria ought to have been the first African country to be visited by Obama.
In a letter to Obama, titled, "Corruption Undermines Democracy in Nigeria, Electoral Reform and Halliburton as Case Study," made avalaible to THISDAY, CNPP Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said, "may we also use this opportunity to inform you that democracy in Nigeria is fast sliding into one party state, consequently quasi-dictatorship.The tragedy in Nigeria is that both our oil industry and electoral process are highly corrupted.
"The most potent force undermining democracy in Nigeria is corruption, hence we recognise that fighting corruption is fundamentally in the interest of our dear country's democracy and development programmes.
For this, we call on friends of Nigeria, like the United States of America, not to stand aloof while Nigeria is on the cliff hanger. "We are witnesses to how our golden oil age was and is being squandered, to the extent that the day alternative energy source is found as your administration is advocating, Nigerians will have no concrete infrastructural development to fall back on." CNPP noted.
CNPP said it is regrettable to note that as Nigeria moves towards the 2011 general elections, "the high hopes raised during the inauguration of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, to embark on genuine electoral reform is fading.
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