Nigeria may not survive if… —Political scientists

Political scientists, at the weekend, bemoaned the lack of direction in the nation’s politics, charging scholars to take a more active interest in the nation’s leadership problem.

They spoke during the Conference of the Nigerian Political Science Association, South West Zone, held at the Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, between Wednesday March 8 and Friday, March 10.

The conference attracted renowned practitioners in the field of political science, including Professor Adigun Agbaje, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Ibadan; Professor Dipo Kolawole, former Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University; Professor Femi Mimiko, former Vice Chancellor, Ondo State University, Akungba-Akoko,; as well as Professors Alade Fawole, A.O Bamisaye, Olu Awofunso, S.O Fagboun, Chris Ajula, M.O Adeyeye. It was also  attended by the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola; National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bola Tinubu, represented by Professor Bayo Williams; the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Najeem Salaam, among others.

In his welcome address on the occasion, the Head of the Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Sat Obiyan, noted that even though Nigeria has had uninterrupted democratic rule for over 17 years,  the country’s democracy is faced with severe democratic challenges.

He added that while deepening democratic institutions and processes require time, it is equally true that enlightenment, conscious efforts, acceptance and commitment to democratic ideals, principles and processes, especially on the part of critical actors, were imperative for the consolidation of democracy.

He said: “At a time when political parties seem to be greatly troubled with the major opposition political party in virtual disarray, when public trust in political parties is increasingly eroding, when there are serious concerns about the electoral process, when there is intense inter-group tension as well as heightened insecurity in the country, when the economy is in dire straits and poverty rapidly increasing, there is no doubt that the theme of this conference is relevant to our national needs.”

How and when these issues are reasonably resolved may be crucial to the health and even survival of our beloved country.”

In his keynote address on the occasion entitled ‘Democracy, Nation-Building and National Development,’ Professor Dipo Kolawole, lamented that the history of democratic institutionalisation in Nigeria was replete with untold failure.

“The founding fathers struggled for and attained self-rule, and not democracy. Even under colonial rule, the self-government of each of the regions displayed assault on ethos of democracy.