Renowned political columnist and Nigerian-born US-based erudite scholar, Dr Chris Okobah has underscored the urgent need for holistic electoral reforms as panacea to restoring Nigeria back on the path of sustainable economic growth and greatness.
Dr Okobah, who made the remark while reflecting on the out gone year and prospects for 2025, posited that until the country got its electoral reforms right, Nigeria would not attain the envisaged greatness as a nation.
He noted that sectoral reforms were necessary for the growth and development of any society, adding, however, that such reforms would become politically expedient and hinged on the success of electoral reforms, which, according to him, was key as it was strategically linked to leadership selection process.
According to him, it is only when elections are free, fair, transparent and credible that the people would have trust on those with the wherewithal to effect necessary changes in all areas of governance.
Dr Okobah queried the electoral process that brought the incumbent president to power saying that by all international standards the process was faulty adding that about 38 million out of a total population of 250 million Nigerians voted in the presidential election as declared by INEC.
The renowned columnist on political issues also frowned at the lopsided composition of appointments by president Ahmed Bola Tinubu which is skewed in favour of the south west saying the federal character principle ought to have applied on appointments to political positions .
The erudite lawyer also contended that institutional and systematic corruption, which had permeated all sectors, including the judiciary, could only be curbed when credible individuals with impeccable attributes were ekected into political positions.
On the way forward for Nigeria in the new year, Dr Okobah challenged the authorities to immediately initiate electoral reforms to restore the confidence of Nigerians on their leaders just as he urged Nigerians to stop choosing political leaders on the basis of financial inducements.
He lauded Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on his developmental strides in Delta Central, adding that the governor should also look at other senatorial districts in the interest of equity and fairness.
While assessing the performance of the National Assembly, Dr Okobah scored Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North senatorial District high in view of the quality of bills and motions he had brought before the senate.
He sited such bills to include the bill on the use of the naira for the purchase of goods and services around the world and the bill for the creation of Anioma State out of the present Delta State among others
