YOU MUST HOLD YOUR LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE IN NIGERIA – FR. ALIA
Donald Kumun-
The Peoples’ Consensus Governorship aspirant, for the 2023 General Elections, in Benue State, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has called on Nigerian Youths to rise and reclaim their values, imbibe the northern tradition of tolerance, accommodation, communal harmony, mutual respect for self and elders, and demand for leadership accountability, by speaking truth to power.
Fr. Alia disclosed this Thursday 24, 2022, during the Student’s Wing Coalition of Northern Groups (SW-CNG) – Ambassador Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series, at the Law Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Law, Benue State University, Makurdi, on the theme: “The Absence of Internal Democracy in Nigerian Political Parties: Analyzing the Consequence and Way Forward”.
Speaking in the capacity of CHAIRMAN OF THE SESSION, the notable Catholic Priest, revealed that, the absence of internal party democracy, in various ways, as mentioned previously by cogent speakers at the event, seems to have contributed to many problems that Nigerians are facing in the country today, a reason he noted, is responsible for poor performance of political officeholders in the Nation, sequel the imposition of candidates on the party, by political godfathers, and party big wigs.
“These imposed candidates are usually not qualified for the offices and are often bereft of developmental ideas that would have benefitted the people.
“The absence of internal democracy tends to produce political officeholders who preserve their loyalty for their political patrons instead of the electorate who voted them into office. Hence, they are more accountable to their political godfathers to the detriment of the masses.
“Another consequence of absence of internal democracy in Nigerian democracy is voter apathy by the electorate. Voters see no need to go out and vote when their preferred candidates are schemed out by a privileged few in the party hierarchy.
“Most party defections in Nigeria are caused by the absence of internal democracy. This gives rise to unhealthy power contest and intra-party feuds. Intra-party squabbles as witnessed in Nigeria, are characterized by fierce and intense mudslinging which causes so much bad blood amongst members resulting in the absence of unity and defections and sometimes outright death of the party”, he stressed.
As part of it’s mobilization strategies to involve every significant component of Northern society, and realising that Students in the higher institutions are the legitimate and natural claimants to shaping the destiny of the North, and beyond, the Peoples’ Consensus Governorship Aspirant, was considered as the right person to Chair the Lecture Session, in Benue State, for the SW-CNG, even as he described Amb. Yusuf Sule, as a quintessential sage, who is known to be accommodating, with great tolerance, and admonished the students, and youths in general, to learn and imbibe his qualities, for the greatness of Nigeria, and the world in general.
“He displayed great respect for elders and always sought communal harmony by seeking peaceful ways to resolve conflicts at all times. Students should learn and imbibe these qualities for our great country to move forward”.
Other personalities in the country who have chaired the Lecture Series previously are: Prof. Attahiru Jega, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, ABU Zaria, Prof. Usman Yusuf,College of Education, Sokoto, Dr. Usman Bugoje, College of Education, Minna, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, University of Maiduguri, Amb. Yahaya Kwande, University of Jos, and Hon. Ghalo Umar Naabba, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, respectively.
