A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, has urged the Federal Government to deregulate politics in order to expand the country’s economy.
He, however, noted that Nigeria, as a country, never had a perfect constitution, adding that it was always work in progress.
Na’Abba stated this on Thursday at the Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series, with the theme: “Constitution, constitutionalism and the future of Nigeria”, organised by the Students wing of the Coalition of Northern Group at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
He said Nigerian politics “must be deregulated because you cannot expand an economy without deregulating politics and this deregulation comes in the form of the control that political parties have been subjected to by the governors in the states.”
Na’Abba said, “The economy has not grown and social mobility has become impossible, therefore, we must expand the usage of our forces. We must deregulate politics because that will now release economic potential for the benefit of Nigerians.
“I believe what the National Assembly proposed that there must be direct primaries to select party candidates; the proposal must be assented to by the President no matter the cost.
“I believe we need good leadership, the imperative of good leadership is much higher than the cost involved and this is not a sum that the Federal Government could not afford.
“If the Federal Government can afford to dish out what they call conditional cash transfers to individuals, I think, they can as well fund direct primary election.”
He therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the bill, saying that Nigerians had a pulse.
“I don’t think it will augur well for the country if Nigeria’s democracy continues to be held to ransom by our governments,” he said, and commended the CNG for mentoring youths.
