Democracy Is Not About Quarreling Like Motor Park Touts – Jonathan

Democracy Is Not About Quarreling Like Motor Park Touts – Jonathan

President Jonathan today Tuesday Dec. 9th called on politicians to shun “ceaseless quarreling” and engage in robust political debates tha... 14:23

President Jonathan today Tuesday
Dec. 9th called on politicians to shun
“ceaseless quarreling” and engage in
robust political debates that would
strengthen the country’s democracy.
Jonathan made the call at the public
presentation and official launch of
the Kukah Centre, founded by
prominent cleric and Catholic Bishop
of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Matthew
Kukah.
Among other aims, the centre was
established to strengthen national
debate, improve governance and
encourage Nigerians to take an
active role in the country’s
leadership.
Jonathan said that the nation’s
democracy should be deepened by
robust debates, stimulation of
innovative ideas and healthy
engagements by all actors.
“I call on everyone, the political
class, our citizens and more
importantly, the academic
community to rise up to these
challenges posed by this initiative
(centre).
“I think we are over defining our
democracy today by quarreling as if
democracy is about competitors
quarreling just like motor park
workers,” he said.
The president urged politicians to
use the 2015 elections to renew their
commitment to the country’s unity.
He said: “As elections draw close, I
call on all politicians to see this as
another opportunity for us to renew
our commitment to deepen our
democracy and strengthen our
bond of unity.
“Democracy is not about political
parties and politicians alone, it is
not just about winning or losing
elections; it is about freedom, about
development and above all a
forward march of our civilisation
and encouragement of creativity.
“It is in this regard that we must
seek to identify and support the
growth of structures and
institutions that will help
strengthen our democracy to meet
our aspirations as a people.”
Jonathan noted that policy research
institutes like the Kukah Centre had
been pivotal to the social economic
transformation of leading countries
of the world.
According to him, such centres have
served as the laboratories of the
development, inter-relation and the
refinement of key government
policies.
He likened the Kukah Center to the
Brooklyn Institute in America, which
pioneered fact-based studies of
government policies, using science
as a key to analysis.
The president then challenged
Nigerian politicians to draw
inspiration from it.
“I’m personally convinced that the
centre could not have finer mentor
than the revered gentleman of long
patriotic standing, Bishop Matthew
Hassan Kukah,” he added.
The centre also aims at promoting
conversations among Nigeria’s faith
communities, as well as between
leaders in faith and public policy.