Ahead of the 2015 general elections, a cross section of Nigerians have said that the country needs strong institutions and leaders to develop. Fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the respondents said that a combination of strong institutions and leaders would fast-track the country’s development goals.
Kano State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, said that building enduring institutions and systems remained key to Nigeria’s socio-political development and sustenance of its democratic structures.
Ganduje said in an interview in Abuja that attaching too much importance to individuals or personalities would not necessarily sustain any society.
Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kano State, said individuals in the system should rather strive to entrench a culture that would strengthen existing institutions.
He identified the absence of such strong systems and institutions as the reason behind the unhealthy relationship between some state governors and their deputies in the country.
He cited Kano State as a model, stressing that the healthy relationship that existed between the governor and his deputy had strengthened systems and institutions of governance in the state.
“When we came into office in 1999, we were coming from a background of a very long period of military rule in Nigeria and you will agree with me that the psyche at that time was quite different and challenging.
“This, however, did not affect the working relationship that existed between my boss and I, this is how it should be between a chief executive and his deputy.
“I feel satisfied working with a particular chief executive for almost 15 years in a civilian dispensation and we are still working harmoniously.
“If you look at what is happening in other states, there are state governors who have changed their deputies more than two times in a particular dispensation and this is not healthy in a democracy; it is a challenge to democracy especially in third world countries like
Nigeria,’’ he said.
Ganduje said that building institutions of democracy that promote healthy working relationships among the different arms and tiers of government must be encouraged and sustained where it is thriving.
He said governance and societal advancement was not all about the individual who initiated the brightest ideas but dependence on systems that would sustain ideas.
The candidate urged state governors to develop cordial working relationships that would promote good governance and continuity.
He said there was nothing wrong in seeking for change but that transition did not necessarily mean a change in personnel but the injection vigour to sustain the ideas.
Ganduje said there would be fewer opportunities for rancour and negative politics at both state and federal levels if state governors and their deputies enjoyed good relationships.
NAN recalls that Ganduje served as deputy governor of Kano state under the Kwankwaso administration between 1999 and 2003, and returned to the same office in 2011 as Kwankwaso’s deputy.
Similarly, some stakeholders in the agriculture sector said the country needed strong leaders who could take decisions as well as strong institutions to sustain achievements.
The Chairman, L-and-Z Integrated Farms Nigeria Limited, Mr Mohammed
Abubakar, said: “As a developing nation, we need a strong leader and as a country that is aspiring to become one of the 20 greatest countries of the world, we need strong institutions.
“We need both, a developed nation does not really need a strong leader, but in our case, it’s only a strong leader that would establish a strong institution,’’ he said.
Mr Tunji Owoeye, the Managing Director, Elephant Group, a multi-national agro-company, also stressed the need for strong leaders and institutions.
“We need strong institutions that would be a vehicle that would drive good leadership and that would be platform for things to be displayed and meticulously followed,’’ he said.
Mr Azubike Nwokoye, Programme Advisor, Food and Agriculture, ActionAid, a civil society group, however, said strong institutions would bring about strong leaders.
“We need strong institutions, it would definitely bring about strong people, if the institutions are strong; it would make the leader focused.
“It is only when institutions not just at the federal level but at local government level are strong that we can have development,’’ he said.
On his part, the Labour Party (LP) National Secretary, Mr Kayode Ajulo, said that strong democratic institutions necessary to further the growth of Nigeria’s democratic governance.
Ajulo told NAN in Abuja that the democratic institutions should be strengthened and insulated from the political class to enable the system to thrive.
“Strengthening our democratic institutions is the only way we can get our democracy right.
“More power to the individual is anti-democratic while stronger democratic institutions are the beginning of getting it right.
“These institutions have to be insulated from the whim and caprices of any of the players. The individuals occupying public offices should be guided and regulated by strong democratic institutions.
“Where democratic institutions are strengthened to function effectively, there will be conducive environment to the realisation of the dividends of democracy.
“Our democratic institutions should be empowered to check the excesses and abuse of office by political leaders. Strong institutions will provide foundation for the democracy to flourish.
“All we need are the laws and regulations that would make, for example, INEC not only independent in name, but also independent in its entirety,” he said.
The scribe explained that all democratic institutions should be granted financial autonomy to enable them to function without interference by the political players.
“We have a judiciary that is independent of the other arms of government. Similarly, we should have an independent INEC where they need not go to anybody to solicit for funds.
“There should be laid down regulation stipulating what accrues to them as funding and the same is released to them appropriately without any hindrance,’’ he said.
Ajulo advised the political class to promote participatory democracy at every level to ensure that the people were consulted before critical decisions were taken.
“The military take decision without thinking of anything or consulting widely but under democracy there is the need to carry everybody along.
“Under democratic setting you have to follow the rule of law, you have to adhere to the procedures, and you have to consult the people to ensure that everybody is carried along,” Ajulo added.
Mr Chika Onuegbu, Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Rivers chapter, called on the incoming National Assembly to strengthen institutions of governance.
Onuegbu also advised the incoming assembly to complete reforms in the oil and gas sector by the passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
“They should focus on strengthening the institutions of governance, complete the reforms in the oil and gas sector,’’ he said.
He said if passed into law, it would diversify the nation’s economy and give the oil bearing communities a sense of belonging.
Similarly, President Goodluck Jonathan also underscored the significance of building stronger institutions than vesting more powers in individual leaders.
Jonathan said in his 2015 national broadcast on Jan. 1 that: “The successful completion of the 2015 general elections will further strengthen our democratic institutions.’’
The president promised Nigerians and the international community that he would ensure that INEC was granted true independence to conduct free, fair, successful and acceptable poll.
According to him, this would further deepen democracy and fast track national development.
He warned against divisive, distractive and destructive tendencies by all stakeholders to take the country to greater heights.
Jonathan also enjoined African countries to promote democracy and democratic institutions. (NAN)
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