The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese of the Catholic Church, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, has reiterated the need for a technocrat-led political system in Nigeria come 2023.
During a live interview on Channels Television on Monday, Kukah noted that the overall progress and development of the nation are currently being militated against because the nation’s political process is being managed by individuals who lack the basic knowledge and understanding of what governance is.
He said, “What we have each voting year is a pattern which zones corruption and not governance; we send many people to Abuja who have no idea about what to do in Abuja
“We have a democratic system which is only accessed by a few who deny the people the opportunity to have a say and our constitutional process has shown that it’s incapable of facilitating a proper democratic process.”
Kukah while making reference to the Oputa Panel report faulted the inability of the nation’s leadership structure to implement the recommendations of the panel almost two decades after.
Also, Kukah explained that as long as the nation continues to prioritize the emergence of men who are not well equipped to lead its political structures, the nation will continue to move in circles with no way out.
He said, “A nation that does not give a platform for its intellects and technocrats to lead its political structures will not develop and grow.”
The Oputa panel was authorised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to investigate gross human rights violations between the 15th of January 1966 when Nigeria had its first military coup until May 28th 1999, the day before Nigeria got back to democracy under Olusegun Obasanjo.
In June 2002, the Oputa panel presented an eight-volume report of 15,000 pages to the president, containing details of human rights abuses during Nigeria’s military era.
However, the government failed to release the report.
