Democracy
By Yahaya Isah
Abuja, May 13, 2024, (NAN) Mr Charles Nwodo, former National Chairman of the defunct Progressives Action Congress (PAC), has urged Nigerian leaders to come up with good policies and programmes that can turn around the nation’s fortune for better.
Nwodo gave the advice on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He said those at the helm of affairs should display every sense of responsibility by coming up with good policies and programmes that can turn around the nation’s fortune for better.
The former PAC chairman urged the nation’s leaders to consolidate on the dividends of democracy recorded for 25 years for the benefit of Nigerians.
Nwodo said that though certain level of achievements had been recorded so far, but more could still be done for the benefit of Nigerians.
According to him, there is need for the celebration because 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule is something that is commendable.
He said he expected the country to rise to the level of the Asian Tigers in terms of development.
“For 25 years of unbroken democracy, we are yet to get where we actually want to be, especially in area of economic reconstruction.
“Even in our moral ways of doing things, this is because of some certain level of corruption in our system,“ Nwodo said.
According to him, successive leaders of the country have Nigerians in almost all spheres of life.
“So, to me, I think we have really achieved some certain level of developments after 25 years of democracy.
“But putting the record straight, it is 25 years of striving to get where we actually want to be. Our educational system, health sector, among others need total overhaul for a better Nigeria.’’
This, he added, would no doubt go a long way to prevent our children who are graduates of medicine and other related fields from leaving the country.
“When youths and citizens are leaving a particular country, it simply means that certain things needed to be addressed or looked into to tackle the trend headlong.
“It also means that we are yet to create an enabling environment that will accommodate our citizens, give them hope, security and life in terms of standard of living.
“And we all know that failure to provide all these indices is not healthy for any nation that wants to achieve greater heights.
“Our leaders need to up their games after 25 years if Nigeria is to get it right as a nation.’’
Mr Abdullahi Jabi, Chairman, North-Central Zone, Campaign for Democracy, Human Rights Advocacy and Civil Society of Nigeria, said that 25 years of democracy in Nigeria was worth celebrating as it was not gotten on a platter of gold.
Jabi recalled that during the struggle, many lives were lost, properties worth billions of naira were destroyed, and sacrifices were made, including the life of the presidential flag bearer, Chief MKO Abiola.
According to him, at the moment, the type of democracy we are practising, vis-a-vis presidential system of government, is not really suitable for us as a nation.
“So, since we’ve been finding it difficult to really stabilise democratically, I will advise that we go back to parliamentary system of government which we began with in the first republic that was cost effective.
“That way, we will be able to nurture it to maturity before switching to the present system.
“But if we are to continue with the presidential system of government, it simply means we need a lot of magical interventions and very serious commitment to take us from where we are today,” he said.
Jabi urged the present administration to take the bull by the horn by embarking on radical measures that could revive the economy for the betterment of Nigerians.
He also urged President Bola Tinubu led-administration to, as a matter of urgency, look into other areas that had been of serious concern to Nigerians, especially in area of food security. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
YI/DCO/ADA
Edited by Deborah Coker/Deji Abdulwahab
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