Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and former House of Representatives member Usman Bugaje have strongly criticized Nigeria’s political parties, blaming them as a major reason the country has struggled with growth and development even after 65 years of independence.
The two elder statesmen made their remarks during Channels Television’s special Independence Day broadcast on Wednesday.
“Winner-Takes-All Politics is Destroying Nigeria” – Falana
Falana condemned what he described as the “winner-takes-all” mentality of political parties in Nigeria, contrasting it with the more inclusive governance model of the Second Republic.
“There is no way you can concentrate power in the hands of the ruling party. The ruling party must share power with other constituencies. There must be proportional representation. The winner-takes-all system is part of the problems we face currently,” he said.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria further argued that without ideological orientation, parties will continue to breed corruption, impunity, and reckless governance.
Bugaje: “Political Parties are Empty Vessels”
On his part, former lawmaker Usman Bugaje lamented what he called a leadership recruitment crisis, rooted in the lack of ideology among Nigeria’s political platforms.
He described the current parties as “empty entities” with no conscience or courage, noting that their lack of substance is what makes politicians move freely between APC and PDP without consequence.
“The political parties we have today have neither content nor conscience, they lack courage, and they are not good for anything. Look at what is happening today—what makes people move from APC to PDP, or from PDP to APC? It is because they are all empty. What really differentiates them?” Bugaje asked.
Their comments add to the growing national debate about the need for deep political reforms as Nigerians reflect on 65 years of independence.
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