Former speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari has warned Nigeria’s political class that the country’s democracy is at a critical stage and requires urgent attention to address declining faith in the system, especially among youths.
The former Katsina State governor gave the warning yesterday in his keynote address at a public lecture in celebration of Nigeria’s 25th Democracy Day, held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
He noted that though 70 percent of Nigerians prefers democracy, 77 percent are however dissatisfied with its performance, citing a 2022 Afrobarometer survey.
Warning the current political actors in the country, he said government should.not be just for the politicians by the politicians and for the politicians.
“We need to prioritise the needs of the populace ahead of our own needs. We also need to become better democrats. We need to fully imbibe the culture of democracy. We need good winners and good losers,” he noted.
The former speaker emphasised the need for continuous attention to shifting perceptions of democracy among Nigerians, warning that complacency could undermine the system’s endurance.
He stressed that democracy’s value lies in its ability to deliver tangible benefits to citizens, urging leaders to prioritise poverty reduction, inequality, human capacity development, and opportunity expansion.
The former governor highlighted the importance of engaging youths, who constitute a majority of Nigeria’s population, and creating an enabling environment for their growth and contribution to the country’s development.
