Tinubu Urges Restructuring Of Nation, Says Violent Revolution Is Not A Corrective Measure
By Wole Shadare and Adamu Abuh, Kano
FORMER Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday added his voice to the growing criticism trailing the state of the nation as it marked its tenth anniversary of uninterrupted democracy.
Tinubu, who spoke to reporters yesterday at the domestic wing of the Lagos airport said that for real democracy to thrive, there must be free and fair elections, adding that there was need to restructure the nation.
According to him, "We have civil rule; we have not democracy yet. We have civil rule and we are happy and we can concentrate on the development programme for our democracy, but to say we have democracy, no. There is no democracy without free and fair election. There is no democracy without a reliable voter register. We have the element of rule of law and we have the judiciary doing their job."
He lamented the country had not been able to tackle its economic problem, describing the power sector as very critical to economic development.
Tinubu, also at the weekend, expressed opposition to the idea of correcting the ills associated with Nigeria's democratic governance through a violent revolution. Rather, he believed that the ills, corruption and other forms of maladministration associated with the country's democracy could be rectified through a social change.
Delivering a lecture entitled: "Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria; Issues, Challenges and Prospects" at a national symposium on 10 years of democracy organised by the Malam Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training, at Mambaya House, Kano, Tinubu, who is a founding father of the Action Congress (AC), canvassed for the strengthening of relevant institutions that could bring to book those found wanting in their respective places of responsibilities.
According to him: "I don't believe in the Rawlings' treatment because rather than making things right, it would make things worse. I believe in reformation and not elimination. We should insist on having the institutions that would make those who lead wrongly serve punishment; we should find a way of frustrating such persons and making them look like outcasts in the society."
Tinubu, who received a standing ovation after his speech, was responding to a question from a member of the audience who asked whether it would not be appropriate to advocate for the execution of those responsible for the rot in the country.
Paying tribute to the late Malam Aminu Kano for leaving behind the legacies of selfless and exemplary leadership, he added: "The first 10 years of resumed civil rule have not been a soar-away success in terms of democracy and democratisation on two crucial fronts; the fidelity of the vote and accountable and transparent governance. Extra work must be done in these areas to make Nigeria a democracy and to make that democracy sustainable," he said
