* I’ll ensure your electoral rights, Tinubu assures Nigerians
By Chesa Chesa
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto diocese, Matthew Kukah, on Friday tasked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government to reduce the petrol price it recently hiked, and ensure Nigerians feed better because the majority of the populace is hungry.
He spoke during the launch of The Progressive Institute (TPI), the intellectual think-tank of the APC, in Abuja.
“You have to find a way of reducing this price of fuel. Unless democracy is anchored on a sound foundation, we will be building on sand. I am concerned about the quality of democracy in Nigeria. We need to fix the problem with democracy in Nigeria.
“I am happy that the political leaders are here, and I want to say that Nigerians are hungry,” Kukah pleaded as he recalled am encounter he had during last year’s election when he asked a lady which party she was supporting, and she bluntly replied:
“I’m hungry”.
The respected cleric however, commended the APC for initiating the TPI and assured that the Kukah Centre, his Nigeria-based policy research institute would provide support and partnership towards promoting scientific approach to politics and governance in Nigeria.
He said: “I have always said that I am not a politician but I am political. I am not a member of the APC. If Labour Party invites me, I will go, if it is the PDP that invites me, I will also go.
“The institute will help the political leaders to change the rules of engagement. Once they are elected, spiritualists, ritualists will dictate their activities. I want to urge Nigerian politicians to move from marabouts to scientific approach to administering the country.”
President Bola Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, in his remarks said his administration was committed to enhancing the power of Nigerians to freely make electoral choices.
Charging the institute to address the issue of ideology leaning of the APC, the president said: “The ideal of the tink-tank and the intellectual resource centre of our great party is not only timely but strategic because there’s is need to change paradigm of engagements within the All Progressives Congress and the Nigerian people.
“The urgent need to build organic relationship with the Nigerian people, create and sustain all season APC voter education, designed to promote inclusiveness, honesty and empowerment. We are committed to enhancing the power of Nigerians to freely make electoral choices.”
The APC national chairman, Adullhahi Umar Ganduje, said the Institute would play the two major roles of the official policy think tank and intellectual resource centre of the party.
“The the Institute will serve as the official Policy Think Tank of the Party. As the Party’s Think Tank, it shall undertake research and advice the Party on the performance of policies and programs of all APC governments and proffer advice.
“It shall provide the platform for robust discussion between the Party, Nigeria’s Academic Community, the civil society and the media as part of a deliberate effort to promote inclusiveness and ownership”, he stated.
