A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has decried the absence of ideology within the political space, saying it was destroying Nigeria in many ramifications.
He, therefore, advocated for a return to politics of ideology ahead of the 2023 general election.
Olawepo-Hashim then declared himself as a core progressive whose ideological platform is to bridge the gap between the extremely rich and the poor, restore transparency and accountability in governance, return the country to a path of ethical practices of modest lifestyle especially of officers of government.
“We stand for rapid social development through the provision and access to education to all Nigerian children, universal health care delivery, and full employment.
“Politics of no ideology, no value, no character no principle has impoverished the people, divided the nation and created hopelessness and apathy. It’s time to return to politics of ideology to save our dear nation,” he said.
In a statement entitled ‘TIME TO RETURN TO IDEOLOGICAL POLITICS’ on Tuesday, the former presidential candidate said one of the greatest setbacks that befell politics in the past 32 years in Nigeria, was the practice of electing people into offices without any definite political programme, principles and set of values as it was in the first and 2nd Republic.
“In the First Republic, there were clear political guidelines, philosophy and roadmap that distinguished most political actors forming the basis for electorates to make informed political choices.
“Most people did not become leaders simply because they felt like stepping to public office as a new title for vain or egoistic pursuits. That brand of elevated politics made for rapid development of the country at the end of colonial rule.”
“As a result of the now absence of ideological and value-driven politics, some crooks, empty and ignorant people have assumed political offices at various levels.
“Mundane and negative issues such as tribal cleavages, thuggery, money, evil oaths of loyalty administered by power brokers have become the main drivers of the political contest since the electorate cannot establish pragmatic differences between most contenders.”
According to the energy executive, a regime of political packaging of those who have helped themselves with the public till, have been imposed on the nation, common thieves are coronated as heroes and political leaders and a society that has acquise to this perfidy, come back quickly to complain of lack of performance at different levels of governance.
“It’s time to return to politics of ideology to save our dear nation. The electorate have to be presented with clear choices based on a roadmap for social and economic development.
“The scrutiny and examination of the histories, values antecedents of contestants must form one of the bases for political leadership recruitment. That was the way politics delivered value in the First Republic and that is the way politics delivers in advance nations.”
He insisted that “societies cannot be moulded and guided and guided into growth by inordinate of individuals but clear principles that have evolved over time, tested and practised not ill-digested thought of persons.
“Only clear ideological paths are fit enough as touch-lights to the future of millions of people.
“We believe in devolution of powers to the subnational governments in the nation (state and local government) away from over-centralization.”
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