Political parties have failed Nigerians – APC vice chair

The National Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has said that Nigeria…

Political parties have failed Nigerians – APC vice chair

The National Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has said that Nigeria is facing serious challenges because political parties in the country have failed to live up to expectations.

He spoke at the Yar’adua Centre in Abuja at the weekend during the launch of “Big Ideas Platform” by the School of Politics, Policy and Governance founded and organised by a former Minister of Education, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili.

Lukman, a former Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), said that since 1999 Nigeria had not been lucky to have a political party that was clearly functional and running its affairs democratically to deliver dividends of democracy.

He said, “The big missing element is that over time we have failed to invest in our political parties.

“As it is today, we don’t have any one party that is clearly functional, running its affairs democratically in a way that citizens can access it, and when they become members they can explore the possibility of emerging as candidates.”

In her remarks, Dr Ezekwesili urged African governments to invest in youths, women and technology to improve the continent’s GDP.