By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Founding Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Otive Igbuzor has said that the success of Nigeria’s democracy lies in the hands of Nigerians
The Centre LSD Executive Director, made this statement in a conference on Strengthening Nigerian Democracy, held in Abuja.
In his speech, the Founding Executive Director said that “This gathering marks not just an event, but the launch of a crucial initiative aimed at tackling the pressing challenges that threaten the very foundation of democracy in our country. As conveners, we have assembled to address the complexities and setbacks Nigeria’s democratic system currently faces, with the purpose of finding actionable solutions that can restore and strengthen our national governance.
“The very purpose of this conference lies in a vision for a democracy that is genuine, resilient, and inclusive. As many of us know, Nigeria’s democratic journey, though spanning 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, is beset by structural and functional flaws. These range from electoral malpractices, ineffective political parties, and weakened governance structures to pervasive corruption and a concerning erosion of public trust.
Speaking further, he stated that “despite decades of democratic practice, the realities faced by Nigerians today often reflect disillusionment rather than hope. The goal of this conference, therefore, is to reignite hope, rebuild trust, and lay out a road map toward a strengthened democratic system that serves all Nigerians with integrity and accountability.
“we recognize an urgent need for democratic reforms and we seek to mobilize and strengthen our political parties.
“The focus of this conference includes fostering the development of political parties that are truly representative, open to internal democracy, and accountable to the people. By addressing these issues, we envision political parties that champion the voice and needs of Nigerians, providing viable choices for leadership and governance.
“Another key reason we are organizing this conference is the need to mobilize citizens for democratic resilience. Democracy is only as strong as the citizens who uphold it.
The Founding Executive Director noted that the conference was, “therefore, an avenue to reignite civic engagement, encouraging Nigerians to actively participate in the democratic process and to demand accountability from leaders at every level.
“From this conference, we anticipate several important outcomes; Increased Public Awareness and Engagement; Strengthened Institutions and Accountability; Renewed Confidence in Democracy:
“I want to remind us all that the success of Nigeria’s democracy lies in our hands. This conference is just the beginning of a sustained effort to rebuild our democracy. We must commit ourselves to active engagement, persistent advocacy, and unwavering dedication to the principles of accountability, integrity, and transparency.”
Represented by his Special Adviser on Political Issues, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Vice President admitted democracy is not a perfect system, but maintained that compared to others, it is the best form of government.
He appealed to fellow Nigerians to support the current administration in this challenging but ultimately rewarding journey, adding that the Bola Tinubu administration has a major interest in the quality of the democratic system.
