By ABUBAKAR YUSUF.
The Catholic Bishop , Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah has advocated for a new wave of democratic practices , if the country must move forward in the game of politics.
Kukah who made the observation on Friday during the validation session on the needs assessment of political parties sponsored by the Kukah Centre- European Union support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria EU-SDGN held at Rock View Hotel in Abuja.
He expressed reservation why over 90M will register to vote in an election, but only about 20M voted, showed alot of discontent from Nigerians to the political class and the political system.
The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese maintained that the political class has alot to do to relive the confidence of ordinary Nigerians, who are the voting population, through sane democratic practices, good governance and doing things the right way.
“We keep referring taken Nigerian democracy to the level like that of Rwanda, but have forgotten Nigeria is different from Rwanda in all context, so if we must take to Rwandan democracy, we must learn to do the right thing.,” Bishop Kukah said.
“How can a public officer who got estacode to travel with 50 members of staff , only end up in travelling with 20 , yet in possession of estacode for the original 50 people, and you expect democracy to work in that kind of environment.”
He said from generation to generation, Nigerian democracy kept enmeshed in corruption, self centeredness, aggrandizement and tribal tendencies, stating that no county system thrives amidst glaring anomaly.
He said the political class are not doing enough to salvage the whole situation right from their corridor, making an instance with legislative aides appointment of members of the National Assembly.
“Legislative Aides for federal lawmakers who are expected to be people of proven integrity and intelligent, are populated by friends, cousins, nephews,brothers and sisters against the original norm.”
He commended the women folk for the clamor and affirmative action on 35% representative at the public space, but warned that it must not be shrouded around corruption, self centeredness, enrichment, religious and tribal coloration.
Kukah said the current leadership and followers in the current dispensation lack inspiration from the political class, because of it’s porous nature and practice.
He impressed that lack of consistency and continuity had affected adversely the new generation of Nigeria and leadership, stating that the need for wholistic re-appraisal is desiring.
However, he expressed confidence that with concerted efforts, he is hopeful that the country will turn around in the next one decade, with a reform polity, twenty decades after the same practice in the U.S. among many other countries.
