The Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Prof. Solomon Gbenga Ibileye says holding period elections is not enough to strengthen the nation’s democracy but better life for Nigerians.
Prof. Ibileye also advocated the sustainable and workable system that will uplift the living standard of the masses.
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He stated this in an Interview with Newsmen on the sideline of the 43rd Inaugural Lecture of the University with the theme, “Between the Ritual and the Ingredients: An Inquiry into the Political Economy of Governance in a Post-colonial State.”
In his words “The message from this inaugural lecture has been poignantly delivered that the symbolism of election is not sufficient, that beyond symbolism, beyond constitution, beyond the processes, that we should have a system, a system that delivers quality livelihood to the people of Nigeria.”
“And that we are not interested in those symbols as much as they are important, but they are not as important important as when we allow those institutions to work, when you allow election to be contested by competent people, not just by people who have the wealth to manipulate the processes to their advantage.
According to him, “What this lecture has emphasized is that yes, we need elections, but beyond those elections, those who would emerge should be people who are prepared to deliver quality service, quality livelihood to the people.”
Prof. Ibileye maintained that the mandate of any government both Local, State and Federal Governments is to secure lives and property of the people, saying the current political system only favours the Elite, hence the rate of poverty in the country and Africa.
“So this lecture is advocating that the political elite should take the leadership more seriously and to know that the votes of the people who elect them into those respective offices are meant to give them the power to transition.
