Democracy on Trial: Plateau Speaker Admits Leadership Failures
In a candid admission of the state of Nigeria’s democracy, Gabriel Dewan, Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, declared that Nigerian leaders, including himself, have significantly failed the populace over the past 25 years.
Speaking to journalists in Jos on Wednesday, Dewan offered a stark critique of the nation’s democratic journey, rating its performance at a mere seven percent.
Despite Nigeria’s wealth of human and natural resources, Dewan lamented the country’s poor utilisation of these assets. “With the natural resources and blessings that God has bestowed upon Nigeria, we ought to be far better than we are now,” Dewan stated, drawing unfavourable comparisons to other nations with fewer resources yet better living conditions.
Reflecting on the military era, Dewan noted that many of Nigeria’s key infrastructures, such as federal highways and local government areas, were established under military rule.
“At times, some of us even begin to wonder if it would be better to return to military rule, as most of the infrastructure in this country was built by military governments,” he remarked.
Dewan’s critique extended across various sectors, highlighting severe shortcomings in education and healthcare.
He pointed out the irony of top officials, including the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health, opting for private schools and foreign medical care over the public services they oversee.
“Consider this; today in Nigeria, our ministers of education send their children to private schools. Our Minister of Health does not seek medical attention in public facilities,” Dewan said, underscoring the lack of faith in the systems they manage.
Calling for a profound transformation of Nigeria’s democratic practices, Dewan stressed the necessity for leaders to accept responsibility and enact meaningful changes.
“I pray that we, as leaders, can think deeply and act in a way that gives true meaning to democracy, otherwise, we will continue to face these problems,” he urged.
Dewan’s candid reflection serves as a wake-up call to Nigerian leaders and citizens alike, emphasising the urgent need for a renewed commitment to genuine democratic values and effective governance.
“From 1999 to date, our performance under democracy has been woeful, and it needs a total change,” he concluded.
