Outcome of Nigeria’s 2023 elections important for Africa’s democracy ― UK Envoy

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Liang, has said that the conduct and outcome of the 2023 general election are important to the democracies in Africa.

Liang said this while speaking at The Convergence 3.0 by Yiaga, a civil society group, to empower and prepare young candidates ahead of elections in Nigeria, held on Thursday in Lagos.

She stated that the world is watching Nigeria as it gets ready for the 2023 elections.

Meanwhile, The Commissioner commended the country’s effort in ensuring the practice of democracy, though she described the state of Nigeria’s democracy as “backsliding” and “stuck in a murky road.

“For Nigeria, Africa and the world, the outcome and the conduct of the 2023 elections is important.

“You all know in your region where actually democracy is backsliding, this includes West Africa basically.

“One really positive thing about Nigeria is the state of its democracy since 1999, though it has been a little bit of a murky road, you are stuck with it.

“One of your previous presidents tried to go for a third term; there is no third term, one of your presidents is going to step down, so there will be a change in the next election.

“The world would be looking at this election; will it be relatively secure, will it be conducted relatively well, and will the outcome be the one the people of the country believe in?”

The high commissioner apologised to Nigerians on the recent ban placed on its travellers going to the United Kingdom from Nigeria.

She added that the decision was imperative owing to the growing transmission of Omicron in Nigeria.

“I want to say sorry if any of you had your travel plans to the UK disrupted, but unfortunately, this is due to the transmission of the COVID-19 variant that is going on rapidly in Nigeria.

“We all just have to recognise and come into terms with this thing so that we can live with it,” She said

Also speaking, the speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin, charged the youths to be determined and fuel their passion in order to achieve their political ambition.

The speaker also asked the youths to seek the face of God in their pursuit.

“In all you do, you need fuel to back up your passion. You have to determine the reason why you are doing what you are doing.

“More important thing we need is spiritual backing. Why are you doing what you are doing? What do you want to deliver to you people,” he said.

Special Adviser to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, told the youths that their age is not their passport to leadership.

She, therefore, charged them to build their character, competence, capability, and courage.

“There is nobody that is old that wasn’t young. Your age is not your passport to leadership but your character, competence, capability, courage,” She said.

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