As Nigerians warm up to February 2023 polls, the Director General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies Ilorin Comrade Issa Aremu has called on past and present Nigerian leaders to imbibe the spirit of statesmanship so as to deepen the Nation’s democratic process.
Comrade Aremu who stated this while addressing Newsmen in Kaduna expressed excitement for the twenty four years uninterrupted democratic experience and the ninety six million registered voters said the country is the largest active democracy in the entire African continent.
Comrade Issa Aremu who was a two term Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress and Vice President of Industrial Global Union called on all eligible voters to get their permanent voter cards and elect leaders of proven integrity who will consolidate on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari and provide opportunities for women and youths in the country.
He took exception to the latest letter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo urging Nigerians to vote for a particular candidate stating that the ongoing campaigns by all the political parties should be for more contest of ideas for development not conquest by candidates, adding that it is time for all compatriots to rise for free and fair contest.
“We must encourage a new Democratic culture that allows for unfettered free debate of issues. The democratic contest is a form of institutionalized conflict. But this healthy conflict should be about ideas not personalities. Let’s have a healthy debate about improving on the good work of President Buhari on fixing security, electricity, reviving the railways, budget year cycle discipline, ambitious public spending, conditional transfers to education, health and poverty alleviation, massive investment in infrastructure, instead of throwing missiles at each other”.
“The winner in the next election” should govern according to the set of ideas most favored by the electorate and be willing to cede power at the next election if his or her ideas do not convince the electorate, this calls for new citizenship as much as new Statesmanship.”
Comrade Aremu hailed Governor Nasir El- Rufai for his urban renewal, urging the next coming government to build on his achievements for better Kaduna.
Cover/Shindong Bala