₦airaland Forum

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, has described his party as undemocratic in the way its leaders carry out their activities.

Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, lamented the alleged refusal of the party to organise statutory meetings for the organs of the party.

The Sun reports the former vice president, who spoke at the second Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) annual conference 2017 on internal democracy, complained about the alleged lack of internal democracy in the APC and other parties.

Atiku said: “The issue of internal democracy in our political parties has been with us for a long time, indeed since the restoration of civilian rule in 1999.

“In long-established democracies those statements would seem trite. But I recognise that our democracy is young, and our parties are also rather young.


“As a result, they are still wrestling with issues of party building, party structures, internal democracy and the nature of the relationship between parties and members, parties and legislatures and parties and government as well as among parties themselves.

“We had a very long period of authoritarian rule in Nigeria, ending in 1999. The legacy of that period is still with us as can be seen in our various governance institutions.

“Indeed even elements of that authoritarian past still wield power and influence in our country as we try to transition from that legacy.


“Also the structure of our economy is such that the state remains the most important source of economic opportunity.

“This heightens the struggle for state power and helps to shape the relationship between parties and members, among parties and among the various arms of government.


“It is, therefore, a huge challenge to democratize governance and the political parties in our country.

“But, as the theme of this conference makes clear, internal democracy in our political parties is very important for the parties, their members and for the country.

“The absence of internal democracy in our parties is a major reason our democracy remains fragile and why the quality of leadership that we produce has not matched our expectations and the challenges facing us as a nation.

"It is also one of the reasons it has been very difficult to hold leaders to account. Internal party democracy is important enough that it was one of the areas addressed by the Electoral Reform Committee headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais many years ago.

“But we know that power wielders hardly voluntarily enlarge the democratic space. That is why I’ve often opined that internal party democracy will only come with genuine electoral reforms in the country.

"Such reforms, broadly along the Justice Uwais Committee Recommendations, which will further strengthen the independence of INEC and ensure that votes count, will encourage parties to field popular candidates in elections.

“And that in turn will encourage parties to allow internal democracy so members have the freedom to choose and express their opinions. Thus the role of godfathers and executive intrusion in the affairs of parties and elections will be diminished.

“In my view, there is a close relationship between democracy within political parties and democracy within the nation. Put simply you cannot give what you don’t have.

“You cannot build democracy on a substructure of dictatorship and intolerance.

“A political party that constricts the freedom of its members cannot really offer freedom to the citizens of the nation. Democracy is not just an idea; is a cultural practice.

“For a number of years now we have had political parties, even governing ones, which hardly hold meetings of their important organs, including those meant for the democratic selection of their leadership, or even constitute institutions prescribed in their constitution.”

Atiku said that was not party building but party bullying.

“And it’s certainly not a way to democratise parties and aggregate their members’ opinions, interests and aspirations.

“This means that efforts to deepen Nigeria’s democracy must include efforts at democratising our political parties.

“The institutionalisation of democracy in our internal party processes will help us deepen democracy in Nigeria.

“Leaders are more likely to tolerate opposition from citizens and other parties if they tolerate it within their own party.

“The lack of internal democracy in political parties is one of the reasons for the fraught relationships among parties and their elected representatives and the legislature and the executive.

“The loyalty of some in the legislature and executive lies not with the party but with a godfather who sponsored them, and the godfather may even be in a rival political party.

“Such anomalies will reduce if internal democracy flourishes in our political parties, and by extension the wider society.

“The selection of leaders in a democracy is a serious business because so many other things ride on it. Whenever we get it wrong the nation or a part thereof suffers.

“We must strive to get it right most of the time. And it is the voters who should freely make that determination. I therefore thank the IPAC for organising this conference and for inviting me to chair it.”

1stCitizen:
Which is the mad man in the pic?

Check the enlarged photo at the background, you will see him behind the man in the middle.

softwerk:
Can you give me multiple orgasms?!

You wan use am build house?

Op, I thought you said '4 SMART things to do'.

Visit ko; Tour ni.

I think it's number 7.

Commendable compilation, good grasp of the different character-trait of each persona in the GOT.

Picture, or ADONBELIEVIT.

Buhari, always in the news for the wrong reasons.

Those lips are a put off, look discolored from smoking. And the last picture be like say she hold cigarette.

OK.

But is what I hear about the abandonment of the economy by Buhari genuine?

Is it true that people are dying on a daily basis due to starvation?

Is it true that unemployed youths, men and women whose business couldn't cope with bad economic recession have taken to crime just to survive?

That our little girls are taking to prostitution just to feed?
...

Amaechi looks like he attended the ceremony against his own will.

Yuch! Disgusting!

See colours!
Aswear this Biafran flag is colorfully flamboyant.

IPOB, abeg make una pity okoroawusa o.

Was he related to Obande Obeya?

Saw it coming. Trust FFK to exact his pound of flesh.

toluxa1:
She's 7

She was six at the relevant time.

This is more like it. Even though I would have liked to see this distraction come to an end.

The economy is in need of concerted efforts from the various players just in the same manner this team of governors was put together just to verify the health status of our dear president.

All the unnecessary expense would have been avoided if APC handled this matter in a more altruistic fashion.

Much money.

How many times are we going to change their name from NPF to the Nigeria Police?

Abudu2000:
here comes the online interceptors for buhari, u can now go n collect ur pay check

My friend, I have no admiration for Buhari. He is the worst that has happened to Nigeria. Behind that avuncular smile of his, is the deepest hatred or, if you like, disdain he has for anyone not foolni. He is the... .

I Much as I love the courage of Fayose, I don't think there is any material discrepancy in the 2 pictures.

OkinosaVentures:
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OkinosaVentures:
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Thanks

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How much last. I am interested.

Distinguished Senator Murray Bruce should man up and do what a Shanghai parliamentarian would have done: ie move a motion for removal of Buhari as president on health grounds. So that Nigeria can move forward.

I can't wait for the fireworks to begin.

Governor Okorocha has blasted Fani-Kayode, describing him as a spoilt child.
The governor who responded through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo said: “The guy (Fani-Kayode) is a spoilt child, one of those whose parents over pampered they hardly talk like human beings. Apart from somebody who went into government, he is not known for doing business. I wonder if he has ever worked and all of a sudden he had political appointment. He has nothing else to brandish apart from the father’s name. Remove his father’s name; I don’t think he is a human being. Rochas grew from the scratch. By the grace of God and hard work, he is where he is today. But that one apart from coming to politics what else does he have to brandish?”

We all know FFK very well in this kind of game. Fireworks is sure to come from FFK himself.

Shouldn't Rochas run for his 'dear life'?

The brazen confidence with which Adesina guy talks to Nigerians on APC lies makes me wonder if there is any evil man is not capable of.

Just imagine.

This guy is more dangerous than lier Mohammed, I tell you.

sunnyb0b0:
Muhammadu Buhari is now observing the bail conditions;

1.) Don't be seen in the midst of more than 10 people - when was the last time you saw Buhari in the midst of more than 10 people?

2.) Do not grant interview to the press - Buhari hasn't spoken to the press since that condition was given.

Bros you no go kee pessin. My gawd!

All na wash.