A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Usman Bugaje, has criticised the political elite, accusing them of taking turns to destroy the country under the guise of zoning.

Bugaje noted that while the people have kept their own side of the social contract in the democracy by being law-abiding and paying taxes, the government has failed to fulfill its own obligations.

He claimed that Nigerians have not benefited anything from government.

Bugaje, who spoke as a panelist during the Colloquium for the 60th Birthday celebration of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in Abuja at the weekend, said Nigeria presently lacks the big idea to push its developmental agenda.

He explained that the problem starts from the political parties which are the foundation of democracy, “have no content, no conscience, and they have 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?

“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 60s, was the second poorest country in the world within just three decades, it was on the cutting edge of technology. Because it has developed a big idea, it was pursuing. The same with Japan, with Singapore,” adding “Nigerian political parties have big men, but don’t have big idea”.

He stressed that democracy is sustained by a social contract, adding that government has failed on its side of the bargain, adding, “Ask yourself today, where is the security? Where is the welfare?

“Poverty has more than doubled. Insecurity has gone to levels unprecedented and, in fact, inconceivable 25 years ago. We have nothing to say that we have gained from democracy. So, on what basis should we have government?”

Speaking on the way forward, Bugaje expressed the need for the elite to develop and have a consensus on the big idea for the country, saying “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. Because it’s like elites taking turns to destroy their own country.

“lf you ask yourself, the current regime, what is the consensus? They’re just talking about my turn. So, we are taking turns to destroy our country. So, the most important step, I think, is to have a consensus. Where do we want this country to be?”

He also called on the leaders to develop metrics for measuring governance and criteria for leadership, saying, “this country has no criteria for leadership and what happens if you don’t have criteria for leadership? Crooks and criminals will find their way. So we have to have the criteria that is in the Constitution, not criteria for eligibility.

“We have to develop a criteria for suitability. We cannot confuse eligibility with suitability. If the Constitution has not done so, the political parties will have to determine that anybody seeking to be president or seeking to be chairman of local government in our party must meet certain requirements.

“Requirements of character. Requirements of competence. Requirements of courage. That courage of conviction that allows you to do the right thing when you know this is the right thing not to bother about any other thing.” (Daily Trust)

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