Akinyemi: Western-Type Democracy Not A Panacea For Nigeria’s Issues
Nigeria’s former Minister of Overseas Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has questioned the suitability of Western-style democracy for Nigeria, warning that the nation’s constitutional framework and partisan politics have constrained efficient governance.
Talking in an interview with Come up Information on Wednesday, Akinyemi argued that imported democratic fashions can’t mechanically clear up Nigeria’s advanced social, political, and safety challenges.
“China, that has moved ahead, shouldn’t be operating a Western-type democracy. And in any case, with any individual like Trump, that democracy has introduced ahead in america, I’m undecided that I will likely be preaching Western democracy as a panacea for the issues we now have on this nation,” he mentioned.
Akinyemi described Nigeria’s present democracy as “a democracy of negativity,” during which opposition events assault authorities initiatives reflexively somewhat than providing constructive alternate options.
“It’s essential to simply oppose for opposition’s sake,” he mentioned, highlighting an absence of nationwide imaginative and prescient amongst political actors.
Reflecting on his expertise serving beneath the army, Akinyemi drew contrasts with right this moment’s governance atmosphere.
“Underneath the army, that will not have occurred,” he mentioned, referring to the mishandling of safety and administrative procedures. “Please, don’t get me incorrect. I’m not advocating a army regime. I’m simply saying that we served within the army and we had a spotlight.”
He mentioned present political actors confront unprecedented challenges, from Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency to rampant kidnapping, but fail to develop coherent methods.
“In Nigeria of right this moment, you’re confronting Boko Haram. You might be confronting ISWAP. You might be confronting people who find themselves busy kidnapping folks. It didn’t happen in our personal time.”
Akinyemi additionally mentioned unintended penalties of Nigeria’s constitutional two-term restrict, noting how successive governments typically reverse the achievements of their predecessors.
“Typically, folks say, watch out what you pray for. As a result of when you’ve got solely two phrases, however once you end that, the following authorities coming in reverses all of the issues that you’ve accomplished… that’s the consequence of getting two phrases.”
He praised governments which have pursued a coherent imaginative and prescient, citing the Obasanjo administration of 1999.
“The one authorities that I can consider since June 12 that had a imaginative and prescient and ran with that imaginative and prescient was the Obasanjo authorities of 1999,” he mentioned.
Calling for a reassessment of Nigeria’s democratic mannequin, Akinyemi prompt revisiting foundational governance constructions.
“I believe we should return to fundamentals. We tried it once we had the Nationwide Convention… However the Nationwide Convention was additionally restricted. I used to be the vice chairman, I used to be the deputy chairman. It was restricted within the targets that we pursued.”
Boluwatife Enome
Times Nigeria