Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare has declared that political parties have not lived up to expectations.
The minister in a keynote address delivered at the 5th Annual Abiola Ajimobi Foundation Roundtable in Ibadan on Friday, organised by Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF), said parties must remain a public trust and organise properly as such.
Speaking on “Deepening Nigeria’s Democracy for Sustainable Development, he said there could be no sustainable development if the party structure was built on fraud and indiscipline.
While noting that virtually all the major parties in Oyo State, like the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party have many internal tensions and contentions to contend with.
He said, “For the party, APC which I belong to, we certainly miss the leadership and political sagacity of Senator Abiola Ajimobi. I am sure if he was here with us today, APC in Oyo State would have been more vibrant, cohesive and a more viable political party.
“How can we then deepen democracy and sustainable development in Nigeria? This is a question, Abiola Ajimobi Foundation and the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies surely want us to examine.
“It is my considered view that we will deepen democracy and sustainable development in Nigeria when we continue to have open forum and roundtable discussions like this,” he added.
Speaking, the Foundation’s President, Chief (Mrs.) Florence Abiola Ajimobi, said it had always been the intention of the Roundtable to constantly interrogate relevant developmental themes for further growth and development of Nigeria, saying “This still remains our focal point.
