Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has stated that Nigeria’s two major political parties have led the country astray in the last 21 years of democratic governance.
This was stated by the former INEC chairman on Saturday during the inaugural lecture of the Kwaravisioners Network for Rural Development in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Professor Jega advocated for the development of new special vehicles to free Nigeria from its current suffocation.
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 may run aground if the needful is not done at the right time.
The former INEC chairman, also called for development of a people-oriented party structure that will be accountable to the people, adding that people must also elect leaders with integrity and competence.
Jega used the occasion to dismiss speculation about presidential ambition, saying, “All I am doing is contributing to a credible, reliable, and acceptable process of election and leadership recruitment in the country.”
In his own contribution, TVC’s Head of News and Current Affairs, Babajide Kolade Otitoju, stated that no one should pretend that everything is fine in the country right now.
He warned that if Nigeria’s current situation is not well managed, “we will all go down together.”
According to Otitoju, there is no leadership recruitment module that can deliver Nigeria.
He challenged voters to change bad leaders through the ballot box or else the country’s current situation would worsen.
While reflecting on the country’s current precarious situation, Otitoju wondered what the difference was between the ruling APC and the main opposition party, the PDP.
