Abdulsalami, Kukah, INEC Seek ‘True Democracy’

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has stressed the need for what he described as “true democracy” in Nigeria.

He said there is no substitute for the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which democracy represents, as sovereignty resides with the people.

The former head of state underscored the importance of strengthening democracy despite the challenges.

Abdulsalami stated this at the launch of the book “100 Years of Political Parties Evolution in Nigeria-The Imperative of Nigeria’s Political Stability: Issues and Solutions,” written and published by the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

The former head of state,  who was chairman of the book launch, said this year marks 26 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria which is the most extended period of constitutional governance since 1 October 1960, when the country gained independence from the British colonial masters.

Represented by General Abdulrasheed M. Aliyu, Abdulsalami said he was happy to usher in Nigeria’s democratic era when he  handed over power to an elected president on May 29, 1999.

He therefore urged Nigerians to keep watering and nurturing the tree of democracy as there is no alternative to civil rule.

“Our democracy has been tested and shaken by reactionary forces and survived. It is a testament to citizen’s belief and resilience in representative governance.

“It has become expedient to explore political parties’ development priorities to consolidate the nation’s democracy and ensure an environment conducive for successful elections and political stability, which is in tandem with the IPAC mandate,” he said.

He said the country has learned a lot in this long period of democracy in Nigeria.

“As we continue the ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments to correct obvious flaws in the electoral process and imbibe democratic ideals, ethics, and values, the nation will yet again witness sustainable democracy and development,” he noted.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the book is a celebration of Nigeria’s political journey and profound contribution to the discourse on democratic consolidation.

The INEC chairman, who was represented by the national commissioner Election and Party Monitoring, Mr Sam Olumekun, said the commission, over the years, has enjoyed a robust and mutually beneficial collaboration with IPAC.

He said the partnership had yielded significant results in political party registration, election monitoring, and engendering capacity-building initiatives for political actors.

“Going forward, we must sustain and deepen this engagement to ensure that our democracy continues to evolve in line with international best practices,” he said.

He identified internal democracy as one of the challenges that political parties must address.

Earlier, in a welcome address, the IPAC national chairman and chief host of the event, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, said, the book chronicles the political party landscape from 1923 to 2023, and serves as a testament to the rich history, evolution and resilience of political parties in Nigeria.

“It reflects the trials and triumphs, the challenges and achievements that have shaped our political landscape over the past century,” he added.

He said that it also chronicled and commemorated the 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria from 1999 to 2023, using the innovative tool of public relations and strategic communications, which is the best practice all over the world, especially in advanced democracies such as the United States, Britain and Germany.

The book reviewer, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Mathew Hassan Kukah, hailed IPAC for publishing and contributing to the body of knowledge in Nigeria’s politics.

Kukah was represented by Prof Sam Amadi, who is the director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts.

Noting that the nation’s Constitution is the Grund norm, Clark said 27 lawmakers openly, on the floor of the House, announced their defection from PDP to APC, when there was no crisis in their former political party.

Clark said in compliance with constitutional provisions, the new Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, had written to INEC, informing it of the vacant seats.

He said a series of events were held to commemorate the defection, including the lawmakers’ reception by the Tony Okocha-led APC in the state.

Clark lamented that Amawhule and his colleagues are still parading themselves as members of RSHA, “attempting to turn the issue on its head, that they did not defect.”

He accused them of shopping from one court to the other, for court judgments and rulings.

Clark further expressed concern that the presidency, legislature and judiciary are committing a breach of the 1999 Constitution which has empowered them to occupy the offices they are today.

He said “Nigerians are asking what is happening, particularly the defiance with the number one law of the country, the Constitution, which binds the nation together.

“This is no longer politics; it has nothing to do with politics. This is an obvious case of people who think that they are above the law, people who are entrusted with our patrimony, our natural assets, using these same resources to circumvent the laws of the land, dominate and oppress others.

“The President of Nigeria, his Ministers, members of the National Assembly, etc., who came into power by the provisions of the Constitution, seem no longer to be in a position to defend the Constitution.

“There cannot be a government in any country if the constitution that binds everyone together is being bastardised. Nigeria is no doubt heading to a failed state. God forbid. This will not happen because the Nigerian people will defend it. The supreme laws of the country must be obeyed if there must be a country called Nigeria,” he said.