Former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attairu Jega, said the two major political parties in the country had led Nigeria astray in the last 21 years of democratic governance.
Speaking at the maiden inaugural lecture of Kwaravisioners Network for Rural Development, in Ilorin the Kwara State capital, on Saturday, Professor Jega advocated creation of new special vehicles to free Nigeria from its present strangulation.
Speaking on the theme: “Politics, Governance and Leadership Recruitment in 21st Century Democracy” Professor Jega, who described Nigeria as a failing state, urged Nigerians to work hard to change our ways for the country to move forward.
“From the local, state and federal government levels, we have clueless leadership because of the way they got into power,” he declared.
He warned that Nigeria might run aground if the needful was not done at the right time.
The former INEC chairman, also called for development of a people-oriented party structure that would be accountable to the people, adding that people must also elect leaders with integrity and competence.
Jega, took the opportunity provided by the occasion to dismiss speculations about his presidential ambition, saying ” I have no presidential ambition; all I am doing is to contribute to a credible, reliable and acceptable process of election and leadership recruitment in the country.”
The Head of News and Current Affairs, TVC, Babajide Kolade Otitoju, said nobody should pretend that all wss well with the country presently.
He warned that if the present situation in Nigeria was not well managed, ”we will all go down together.”
Otitoju observed that there was no leadership recruitment module that could deliver Nigeria.
He challenged voters to change bad leaders through the ballot box or else the current situation in the country might continue unabated.
Otitoju, while reflecting on the current worrying situation in the country, wondered what was the difference between the ruling APC and PDP, the main opposition party.
He wondered how APC, a party that fought and voted out former President Goodluck Jonathan, could now turn round to woo him for another tenure in office.
Otitoju prayed “to God to heal the land.”
Also contributing, Tope Kolade Fasua, blamed both politicians and intellectuals for the rot in the country.
Apparently referring to the degree of corruption in Nigeria, Fasua compared Nigeria with Ghana saying the difference between the countries was wide from the entry point of that country at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra.
He said available data indicated that Nigeria had now become the third most unsafe country in the world, due to the present insecurity challenges facing the country. (With Franktalk report edited)
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