A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said the present brand of politics, driven by personal ambition and self interests is the reason for the current meaningless state of Nigeria.
Speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday, Olawepo-Hashim however said that commitment to ideology and principle can bring the desired sanity and stability to Nigeria’s political landscape.
He lamented that selfish politics has been the reason “why it seems like Nigeria’s past seems more meaningful than its present.”
He added, “If we want rapid development as we saw in the first Republic when Nigeria was a leading light amongst third world countries, our leadership recruitment must be based on the ideals that politicians stand for; their personal records, rather than their “war chests.”
The former presidential candidate added that, “nonsense and meaningless talks such as it is my turn, and religious bigotry will only continue to divide the country and plunge the country to violence.
“As it is now, it appears we have already bungled the current process and before the next election cycle, we need to fix the polity.”
“The party system where principle and ideology reign, he submitted, must be revived and restored, while party supremacy must return.
“Party organisations and structures must revolve around the people, not around the MERCHANTS and not around an Emperor and little Emperors in different states ,” he said.
Also of great importance, according to him, is voter education, adding that, “the voters must be educated and oriented to see themselves as the ultimate deciders in the electoral process.
“They must be sufficiently enlightened to see themselves as beautiful brides, and not as commodities of trade on the day of election.
“Like in the first and second Republic, the voters must be confident enough to reject the deceit of political, ethnic and religious bigots who parade the political landscapes with foul language and filthy lucre.”
Olawepo-Hashim said, “Nigeria is the glory of Africa and the black race. It must be rescued to play her destined role. “
