By Dele Ogbodo
In what many see as agenda setting for a robust dialogue ahead of 2027 polls, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Ghana, Mahamudu Bawumia, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar SA’AD 111, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim among other distinguished Nigerians have been scheduled to offer their avowed insights toward strengthening Nigeria’s democracy as 2027 is becoming more glaring in Nigeria’s political history on Monday (tomorrow) 27, in Abuja.
Convener of the all-embracing stakeholders meeting and Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, in a programme outline, said the theme: Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity’ underscores the urgency of addressing critical challenges to Nigeria’s democratic processes and institutions.
This event, coming at the front end of the year will pull eminent scholars, policymakers, civil society leaders and other stakeholders engage in dialogue and chart actionable pathways for rebuilding trust in democratic governance.
Others expected at the event include: the Attorney general and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN,Mr. Jake Epelle, UN Women Nigeria, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, former governors of Kano State, Messrs. Abdullahi Ganduje, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, Bishop Mathew Kukah and many others.
Igbuzor, however noted that democracy is a contested concept even as he said that since independence, Nigeria has been trying to build that lasting democracy that works.
According to him: “This yearning and shared objective of adopting representative democracy as the country’s system of government is seen as the best option for a pluralistic society like Nigeria.”
However, he added that the journey has not been smooth and the practice has not been perfect.
He said: “The session on ‘Rebuilding Confidence in Nigeria’s Democracy through Institutional and Policy Reforms and Transformation’ will explore practical ways towards a consociation arrangement among competing groups and political interest in the country that will help to entrench democratic institutions to deliver far reaching national development agenda.”
