Election can be won without disrobing our country – Fashola
By Bisi Adewumi
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Raji Babatunde Fashola has said that we can hold elections successfully without disrobing our country to the outside world.
Mr. Fashola who was the guest speaker at an Annual Lecture organized by “TheNiche Newspaper” on Thursday at Muson Centre, Lagos titled “2023 Elections and the future of Nigeria’s democracy”, stated that democracy and elections shouldn’t be blown out of proportion. There could be intra and inter parties rancour, elections should be issue based. He suggested that we should find way of channelling our grievances.
The Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief in his welcome address clarified that the event was organized to remind Nigerians that elections have consequences.
Earlier, the former Liaison Officer to President Shehu Shagari and founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, OFR who chaired the occasion opined that parliamentary system of government adopted in 1960 was better than the presidential system we are practising.
In his words, ” parliamentary system was more democratic and not wasteful like presidential system, but was driven by American elites”, claiming that it has not done justice to the parliamentary system. He advocated for the “French Presidential system” where it’s easy to remove non performing leaders.
Mr. Fashola in his reaction said there was nothing wrong with our presidential system, though it may not be perfect, which could be why people are clamouring for restructuring.
The honorable minister hinted that “democracy is a man made idea, which is an evolution from tyranny of rule by the few. The tyranny of minority has been replaced by the majority”.
Mr. Fashola charged the citizenry to be more involved in politics. They are encouraged to know their rights and obligations. They should know whom to ask what. He was a bit disappointed at the number of people that indicated to have read the constitution. “And that is why we ask wrong things from wrong people most of the time”.
He went further to say that it’s not enough to be on the opposing side. When you’re criticising, you should be able to proffer solution(s) to the problem on ground. In essence, be a government in the making.
Expanciating further, Fashola cited the example of how the two major parties had attempted to remove oil subsidy and were met with social unrest. Yet, no one has come out to tell us the way forward, knowing fully well there is an inherent problem with subsidy. Government should be all participatory.
“Nigerians should be able to say what they want. If they do so, who is the politician that will say no”, he asked rhetorically.
Addressing the way out, the minister said the press has a big responsibility in shaping news. There is a need to concentrate on matters and issues and not party rancour.
According to Mr. Fashola, we talk of devolving powers, but the ones given, what are we doing with them? For example, states have been granted power to generate power. We are not asking them what they’re doing about it. We don’t ask local government what they’re doing. Everything should not be channelled to the federal government.
On a lighter mood, the minister enumerated a few of the successes of democracy in Nigeria. He mentioned that democracy has granted us freedom to gather. “People can now come out to contest elections unlike a time when all the 5 political parties adopted a single presidential candidate”. Again, he said Bonny is now accessible. Lagos-Ibadan which was constructed in 1981 became so bad, but is near completion now. There is now alternative bridge across River Niger. Enugu-Onitsha Road too will soon be completed, to mention but a few.
On the final note, he expressed optimism concerning the coming general elections.
The lecture was rounded off with an epic induction of certain dignitaries into “TheNiche Hall of Fame”.
