Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Minister for Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has urged Nigerians to reject both the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC; and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the forthcoming polls, describing both parties as “siamese twins of bad governance.”
The co-founder of Transparency International, and global advocate for good governance who made the call while featuring on Ikengaonline town-hall meeting, Thursday night, said APC and PDP have been responsible for Nigeria’s underdevelopment, and should not be allowed to hang on to power.
According to her, the two dominant parties in the country are of one political umbilical cord without difference in their ideologies.
The former Minister regretted that after 2007 not much progress had been recorded in Nigeria, a sad development she attributed to “migration dance” between the two dominant political parties in the country.
She urged Nigerians to use the power of their ballot to uproot both parties on Saturday, and enthrone a new order where true Nigerians should be in charge of the affairs of the country to chart a new course for the country.
“I’m not a fan of both parties. Their candidates are the real face of the problems of Nigeria. I won’t be voting for them.
“Anyone who wants a continuity of bad governance may look their way. They have no solution to the problems of this country.”
She called on Nigerians to use their ballot to reclaim the country from political hijackers suffocating the country for too long.
“Finally, citizens should vote for themselves. For a long time now, Nigerians have been voting for politicians who have wickedly appropriated the political space to themselves.
“The masses have been marginalised to the extent that they have no share of what democracy produces.
“It’s now time to break this pattern of subjugation. It’s time to take back the country and put in place the right leadership that will produce good governance.”
She expressed delight at the level of political awareness and literacy currently in the country, saying it will help change the narrative and usher in a new dawn in Nigeria’s political space.
Ezekwesili who is currently chairs the Board of Women Political Leaders (WPL), spoke on the topic: “Women in Politics, East of the Niger.”
She identified political parties as the biggest barriers to women getting involved in governance, while advocating a support system that could help women with interest in governance to easily get into the space.
According to her, political parties are clubs for men while the absence of internal democracy is the reason women are scared at getting involved in partisan politics.
She strongly advocated the involvement of women and youths in governance to fast track development in society.
Ikengaonline monthly town hall meetings are meant to discuss topical issues affecting the South-East zone of Nigeria in particular, and the Nigeria state in general.
The maiden edition of Ikengaonline town-hall meeting featured the immediate-past Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, in July 2022; while the second edition featured a renowned Political Economist, Professor Pat Okedinachi Utomi, in August.
Former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; US-based academic, Dr Okey Ndibe; West African Regional Director, Ford Foundation, Dr Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye; as well as multi-award-winning actress and Director of Communications, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Monalisa Chinda Coker, had all featured at different editions of the explosive 90 minutes show.
Ikengaonline is a South-East-focused on-line media outfit which aims at giving voice to citizens of the South-East, and parts of Rivers and Delta states, and highlights the challenges facing the region.
Guests from all over the world participated in the virtual meeting that was jointly anchored by Dr. Osmund Agbo and Dr Chido Onumah.
It was also transmitted live via Ikengaonline Facebook page.
Ikengaonline is a publication of Ikenga Media and Cultural Awareness Initiative (IMCAI), a non-profit entity that seeks to promote positive socio-cultural values, accountability and good governance through media and public education.
It is part of the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project, a multi-level intervention for media independence and government accountability, managed by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and supported by MacArthur Foundation.
