‘NASS Members Don’t Understand Party Manifestos’

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy national chairman (South) Ambassador Taafeek Oladejo Arapaja yesterday said members of the National Assembly do not understand the manifesto of their political parties.

He said lawmakers are not well grounded on the policy stand of their parties which explains why they are doing things on their own.

Arapaja spoke during the inauguration of the Peoples’ Democratic Institute (PDI) establishment committee by the National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum at the headquarters of the party in Abuja.

He lamented that there are so many gaps in intellectual capacity between the members of the parties.

Arapaja said, “There are so many gaps in intellectual capacity of the members of the party, members of the community and Nigeria as a whole. 

“Before now, normally after elections people come for training, seminars, workshops on the art of governance.

“In the National Assembly you see what happens to many members of political parties these days, they don’t know what it means. Some members don’t even understand the manifesto of the party, they are not well grounded in the policy stand of the party. People are just doing things on their own.

“We need to develop the capacity of these people and by doing that, you will deepen democracy in Nigeria. That is the gap that the PDI is expected to fill. It is not even in existence anymore.

“So, we need the help of our Governors and other stakeholders to bring it back to its feet, so that the benefits meant for Nigerians, the political party faithful will be realized”, he said.

Earlier, while inaugurating the establishment committee of the PDI, the Chairman of PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum said the decision (on establishment of the committee) was part of the party’s commitment to making PDI the hub that can do a lot of research and develop the democracy within the country and the party at large.

According to Damagum, “The PDI was established more than 15 years ago as part of efforts to strengthen democracy within the Nigerian context.

“PDP is the only party that has that foresight to have that kind of institution that can research and develop the democratic tenets.

“Ours is to put in our effort so that it can help in the development of democracy within the Nigerian context and even beyond”, he said.

He disclosed that members of the committee were carefully selected “because you have distinguished yourselves from where you came from.”

The committee was saddled with the responsibility of kick-starting the process of bringing someone (Director-General) that can pilot PDI so that it can achieve its goal within the shortest period of time.

The establishment committee has Ambassador Arapaja as Chairman, while the party’s National Legal Adviser, Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) as one of its members.