Edo Decides 2016 - Building Strong Political Parties Via Sustainable Internal Democracy: A Prerequisite

Sustainable democracy is attainable when such tenets as sovereignty of the people, majority rule and minority rights, the rule of law and good governance, respect for civil and political rights, mass literacy, economic prosperity, social development, free press and an independent judiciary are strongly in existence.

In other words, in addition to power emanating from the people, and sovereignty belonging to them, democracy also requires the exercise of political power to promote the public good or welfare of the people, as well as accountability and transparency in governance. A paper presentation by Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor, Delta State, Towards Sustainable Democracy In Nigeria: The Role Of Political Parties.

Whereas political parties ought to be the connecting rods between politics and the people; it is needful for parties to continually strengthen ties with the people via developmental policies and programmes, eliciting demands from the society and bundle them into packages making the public part of the political process, selecting the right people for government and legislative offices and oversee or control government if they are in government or opposition - A paraphrase of Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen on the need to enshrine internal democracy in Party politics.

Whereas the PDP is now on the other side of the divide, with an eye on the policies and programmes of the ruling government; ensuring that such policies are people-oriented and seeks to address the needs of the common man; yet the PDP remains a model and exemplary political Party within the African political space; it will be more rewarding therefore, for the PDP to sustain the ideals of internal democracy, promoting justice, transparency and fair play in her dealings with members, Nigerians and the rest of the World.

The PDP deserves a path in the back for her landmark achievements firstly in mobilizing Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to herald democracy to our doorstep, secondly, broadening our uniting factors cum building strong unity, promoting peace and progress and deconstructing the concepts of division, ethnicity and religious intolerance; yet, we cannot claim outrightly that there has not been elements of mistakes on the journey to victory; hence the need to pull-back a bit, restrategize and reposition for glory.

Coming back home, EDO 2016 counts down, the PDP, been a major player in the guber project has to ensure that the candidate it presents for the race is one of proven commitment, steadfastness and is appealing to the general public for which this is a foundation step to our success at the polls. Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen did not abandon the PDP when the going was tough and the future shaky, when it seemed like the ship sank down the ocean with a wreckage imminent, MAI stayed put with his PDP copatriots to balance the saddle viz-a-viz rallying with members in their political journey.

His, has been a display of the spirit, character and disposition of a true and noble Party man; lubricating the binding cords of the PDP. MAI is poised to restore Edo's industrial glory; ensuring that comatose government-owned industries are revamped and new ones built through efficient public-private-partnership (PPP) towards eradicating the gale of youth unemployment, empowering women with soft loans and enabling a secured and economic-friendly environment for trade, promoting good, quality education, institutionalizing scholarship and bursary award for students, bridging the urban-rural dichotomy through viable agricultural policies, programmes and road construction, improving Edo's infrastructural strength to enhance profitable investment, upgrading our healthcare facilities to satisfy WHO minimum requirements, revitalizing our zest for sports etc.

These and more are the socio-contract agreement which MAI is poised to strike with Edo people come November 20, 2016, when MAI mounts the podium to take the oath of Office Of The Governor, Edo State on the platform of the PDP. Our Great Party, we beg you, let us choose right for the good of Edo people.

PDP; Power To The People. MAI; Together We Can.
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