Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, says development will continue to elude any nation that’s ravage political upheaval and instability.
To this end, he called on President Bola Tinubu administration to put political stability in the front burner of national discourse to achieve desired development in the country.
Abbas made the call on Thursday at a lecture organised by the National Institute of Democratic and Legislative Studies (NILDS) to mark the 2023 Democracy Day.
Abbas, who was represented by Benjamin Kalu, his deputy, said foreign investors would only take their money to politically stable nation where security of lives and properties are guaranteed.
“We must prioritise political stability in the new administration to achieve the desired development and attract sustainable foreign investments,” he said.
“Democracy provides the liberal environment necessary for innovation, creativity and growth. Undeniably, is the best means to ensure sustainable development that meets the needs and interests of our people.”
Also speaking, Abubakar Sulaiman, director-general of NILDS, said that the lecture was organised to assess the nation’s democratic governance.
“From the angle of governance and representation, the need for inclusion in the nation’s leadership spectrum is one of the most discussed issues,” he said.
“Inclusion of excluded groups such as persons with disabilities, women, young people, and Nigerians in the diaspora in the nation’s democratic process, including elections are other aspects of inclusion discourse warranting scholarly engagement.
“These challenges place a lot of expectations on the new administration and thus require informed perspectives to enhance governance outcomes at the federal, state, and local government levels.”
He said there is a need to address security challenges facing the nation as “they pose a threat to our democracy”.
“Therefore, the new government should do something urgently to address the menace of insecurity bedevilling our country and undermining our collective resolve. It is in connection to the above that continuous appraisal of our democratic journey in fora such as this is vital to take stock and draw lessons for the progress of our country, Nigeria,” he added.
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