A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Usman Bugaje, has lamented that democracy in Nigeria has failed to deliver any tangible benefits to citizens, accusing the country’s political elite of taking turns to mismanage and destroy the nation under the guise of zoning.
Bugaje, who spoke as a panelist during the colloquium marking the 60th birthday of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in Abuja over the weekend, said Nigerians have fulfilled their obligations in a democratic society by being law-abiding and paying taxes, but the government has failed to meet its responsibilities.
“The problem starts from the political parties, which are the foundation of democracy. They have no content, no conscience, and no courage. Just take any party, what does it convey to you? Where is the big idea? What is that thing that this party represents in terms of the future of this country?” Bugaje asked.
He further pointed out that while Nigerian political parties have prominent figures, they lack visionary ideas.
“We have a collection of big men in parties, but you can’t find the big idea. Countries that have developed, like South Korea in the 1960s, were among the poorest in the world but within three decades became technological leaders because they pursued a big idea. The same is true for Japan and Singapore. Nigerian political parties have big men but no big idea,” he said.
Bugaje also emphasized the failure of democracy in ensuring security, welfare, and poverty reduction. “Poverty has more than doubled. Insecurity has reached levels that were inconceivable 25 years ago. We have nothing to say that we have gained from democracy. So, on what basis should we have government?” he asked.
On the way forward, Bugaje called on the political elite to reach a consensus on a long-term vision for the country.
“Where do we want our country to be in 25 years? And what do we need to do to get there? There is no consensus. Everybody wants his own tribesman to be president. It is like elites taking turns to destroy their own country. The most important step is to have a consensus on where we want this country to be,” he said.
He further urged leaders to establish clear metrics for governance and criteria for leadership, stressing the need to distinguish eligibility from suitability.
“This country has no criteria for leadership. Crooks and criminals will find their way if there is none. We must develop requirements of character, competence, and courage. Courage of conviction allows you to do the right thing regardless of other interests,” Bugaje added.
