2023: Nigerians sell themselves like commodities to politicians – DG NIIA

The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, says politicians continue to fall short of expectations as voters constantly sell themselves like commodities during elections.

He noted that as long as the nation deepens its democracy along such a trajectory, the nation will continue to regress to low levels of development.

Osaghae, who was the keynote speaker at Senator Abiola Ajimobi's 2022 Roundtable held at the University of Ibadan on Friday, said political office holders continue to get away with it with poor governance because voters had been bought off at a price.

Speaking on the topic: "Deepening Democracy in Nigeria for Sustainable Development", Osaghae noted that although the nation is deepening its democracy, its abysmal performance and ranking in the UNDP Human Development Index shows how less developed the country has remained.

Osaghae said, “Performance and ranking in the UNDP Human Development Index is no less abysmal and shows an inverse correlation to supposed progress in deepening electoral democracy.

“In other words, the more democracy has developed, the less the country has developed. We may have come this far in our democracy, but we have not come this far in our development. There is an inverse relationship between our democratic growth and our development.These growth statistics hide more than they reveal.

“Our democracy is deepening. Follow the methods and they will get better. But the only time we are remembered is when our politicians arrive and we can line up behind them.

"After the election, they don't look at us at all because we sold ourselves like commodities. They bought us at a price and they say, don't expect anything more from us than that. So, as you deepen your democracy along this trajectory, you regress to low levels of development."

Speaking in the same spirit, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who was chairing the event, said the problem was that after the elections and the formation of the government, Nigerians forget to wondering what governance offers.

Represented by his Deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ondo Governor said supporters need to consider whether governance focuses on developing human capital, providing an enabling environment for business to thrive and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).< /p>

Akeredolu said: "The effectiveness of a leader is determined by the type of followers. When an election is held and a government is formed, what happens to governance? one of the problems we are facing today.

"For us to have sustainable development, what are you doing to meet the needs of today without destroying the environment and always keeping the future generation in mind.

“We must continually provide an enabling environment. Without an enabling environment, there can be no meaningful and sustainable development.”

The Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, who was the keynote speaker, said political parties were key to deepening the democratic process and sustainable development through the dissemination of their manifestos and educating the public about government programs and policies.

Acknowledging that political parties had failed to live up to expectations, Dare said sustainable development would be a mirage if the party structure was based on fraud and indiscipline.

He noted that the nation needs leaders who truly love the people and will serve them with honesty and determination to make a positive impact.

“Political parties are strong pillars of democracy. Our democracy cannot flourish as it should without strong and viable political parties. Unfortunately, our political parties have failed to live up to expectations. public trust and organize themselves properly as such. There can be no sustainable development if the party structure is based on fraud and indiscipline,” Dare said.

In her remarks, the President of the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, stressed that the establishment of inclusive and functional leadership and effective public participation in the democratic process is crucial for all Nigerians can truly reap the dividends of democracy.< /p>

Others who contributed to the panel discussion included the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi; Reverend Father Anthony Akinwale; Dr. Ifeanyi Onwuzuruigbo; Dr. Funmilayo Agbaje, Dr. Hussaini Abdu.

The roll-call of dignitaries at the event also included University of Ibadan Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale; Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao; the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin; his Accord party counterpart, leader Adebayo Adelabu; Mr. Zacch Adelabu; former Minister of Industry; Chief Onikepo...