The National Chairman of the Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has urged Nigerians to be intentional in choosing candidates during elections, saying the quality of leaders elected will determine the country’s future.
Turaki made the call while speaking at the 2nd Bala Mohammed Colloquium held in Bauchi to mark the 68th birthday anniversary of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
The PDP chairman urged voters to reject inducements and instead assess candidates based on their capacity to provide quality representation and contribute to national development.
“It is often said that a country has the leaders it deserves. That is true because they don’t become leaders except we choose them or acquiesce to their emergence,” Turaki said.
He warned against voting in exchange for food items or money, stressing that voters must make decisions based on the competence and capacity of candidates.
“We must not vote in exchange for spaghetti, rice, money or any other inducements. We must vote according to the capacity of the candidates to offer quality representation and contribute to national development,” he said.
Turaki also expressed concern over what he described as a weak legislature, saying effective checks and balances were necessary for a healthy democracy.
“In the past we had leaders, especially legislators who offered effective and responsible representation of their people, which contrasts with the rubber stamp legislature that we now have,” he said.
“A weak legislature is not good for our country, as there will be no effective checks and balance.”
The PDP chairman also called for greater involvement of young people in politics and governance, arguing that youths should be active participants in shaping the country’s future.
“Young people must be consciously engaged in the process of politics and governance, as integral parts of the process, and not just as a decoration, or a statistic to look good,” he said.
Turaki questioned the continued description of youths as “leaders of tomorrow,” saying they should be given meaningful opportunities to participate in governance now.
“We must stop to say that youths are the leaders of tomorrow, when will that tomorrow come?” he asked.
“Young people are the greatest stakeholders of the future, and that future cannot be discussed or planned in their absence.”
He commended Governor Bala Mohammed for what he described as his commitment to youth inclusion, particularly in the choice of his preferred successor.
“We cannot keep leaving the owners of the future out of the room, when we are planning the future,” Turaki said.
He also commended the organisers of the colloquium for providing a platform to reflect on the past and discuss the future of the country.