A former Nigerian Ambassador to Russian Federation and Belarus, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, has declared that Nigeria is yet to have political parties geared towards ideological leaning and principles to better the lots of the electorate.
Assam who was the Chairman of occasion at the 2021 Press Week by Akwa Ibom Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Monday, December 6 said he was not oblivious of more than 100 political parties in Nigeria that took part in the 2019 General Elections in the country.
However, the Ambassador who is a Peoples Democratic Party chief in Akwa Ibom said political parties in Nigeria are yet to be seen as such compared to what is obtainable in United States of America and United Kingdom.
Speaking at NUJ Press Centre, Uyo, he observed that ‘’Nigeria borrowed Presidential system of government from United States, yet the country is yet to practise what is being done from the foreign country.
In US, there is a clear demarcation between the Republicans and the Democrats. Republican will tell you foetus in the womb has life and has a right to live and should not be aborted. But, a Democrat will tell you that the mother has a right to decide whether to keep the foetus, not the foetus deciding for the mother.’’
According to him, ”In United Kingdom, a Prime Minister of Labour Party will present a budget, yet opposition Tory will stand on the floor of the Parliament to accuse the Prime Minister of embezzling public funds without any qualm.
In short, there is opposition there. The Congressmen and Parliamentarians hold diverse ideologues and beliefs. You know their stands. No mingling of thoughts and words in the course of holding public opinions on issues.
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However, in Nigeria it is a different ball of game. No one knows where one is standing. Yesterday, politicians in Party A campaigned against corruption but when they took over rein of governance they are swimming in corruption. No one is talking about corruption. The only opposition you have in the country is the press. No opposition party thrives to checkmate the ruling party. It is as worse as that.’’
He also spoke against inaccurate and unreliable population census figures bantered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of election without accurate data on the actual number of unemployed persons and registered voters.
He bemoaned a situation where INEC would publish figures on the number of voters before the conduct election but would declare higher figure during announcement of results.
The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Moses Ekpo commended journalists in the state for conducting themselves creditably enough to attract the admiration and respect of government.
Ekpo said with consistent efforts on the part of the present leadership of NUJ in the state to sanitize the union, he, as one who germinated from the press, grown in the press and will perish in the press will continue to proudly identify with the union.
The deputy governor declared journalism an opportunity for total service and the opportunity to influence the thoughts of the society and expressed the optimism that if journalists can influence positively, then the 2023 elections would be held without harmful erosion to societal values.
While commending the competence of the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy in maintaining a cordial relationship with the media community in the state, the pioneer Information Commissioner also used the forum to warn journalists against demarketing the society as they are also a part of the society.
“Journalists in Akwa Ibom have earned the respect of this Government. if you say that your state is not credible, then you are not credible, if you say your state is useless, then you are useless. Successful people don’t rock the boat. Investigate, speak and report the truth to earn respect,” he said.
He used the occasion to challenge female journalists to start a conversation to influence women to key into the race to Govern Nigeria. “Consider yourselves as critical stakeholders in Nigeria,” he advised.
