The two dominant political parties in the country have led Nigeria astray in the last 21 years of democratic governance.
This was the position of a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Professor Attairu Jega.
Jega made this known while speaking at the maiden inaugural lecture of Kwaravisioners Network for Rural Development, in Ilorin the Kwara State capital, on Saturday.
He pushed for the creation of platforms he called “new special vehicles” to free Nigeria from its present predicament.
The former INEC boss spoke on the theme: “Politics, Governance and Leadership Recruitment in 21st Century Democracy” Professor Jega, who described Nigeria as a failing state, urged Nigerians to work hard to change our ways for the country to move forward.
According to him, “From the local, state and federal government levels, we have clueless leadership because of the way they got into power.”
He warned that Nigeria may run aground if the needful is not done at the right time.
The professor also called for the development of a people-oriented party structure that will be accountable to the people, adding that people must also elect leaders with integrity and competence.
He equally used the occasion to dismiss insinuations about him having presidential ambition, he said ” I have no presidential ambition, all I am doing is to contribute to a credible, reliable and acceptable process of election and leadership recruitment in the country.
Other contributors at the programme include Mr. Babajide Kolade Otitoju, the Head of News and Current Affairs, TVC who said nobody should pretend that all is well with the country presently.
Otitoju warned that if the present situation in Nigeria is not well managed, ” we will all go down together.”
He observed that no leadership recruitment module can deliver Nigeria.
Otitoju who is a regular in a TVC flagship programme, Journalist Hangout, challenged voters to change bad leaders through the ballot box or else the current situation in the country may continue unabated.
He wondered what differentiate the ruling APC from the PDP, the main opposition party.
He asked how APC, a party that fought and voted out former President Goodluck Jonathan, could now turn around to woo him for another tenure in office.
Another contributor, Tope Kolade Fasua, blamed both politicians and intellectuals for the rot in the country.
Referring to the degree of corruption in Nigeria, Fasua compared Nigeria with Ghana saying the difference between the two countries was wide from the entry point of that country at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra.
He said available data indicated that Nigeria has now become the third most unsafe country in the world, due to the present insecurity challenges facing the country.
