Labour Party Vital To Nigeria’s Sustainable Development – Dr. Sam Amadi
The Labour Party of Nigeria has been identified as a crucial element in the country’s quest for sustainable economic and social development. This assertion was made by Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, at a 2-day Extraordinary Workshop on “Capacity Building for Development through Popular Political Participation” convened by the NLC Political Commission recently.
Dr. Amadi, in his speech, emphasized the importance of a functioning political party system in achieving a working democracy. He noted that the current state of political parties in Nigeria is far from ideal, describing them as “Special Purpose Vehicles” (SPVs) for getting to political offices, rather than aggregating coherent ideological visions for national development.
“It is difficult to conceive of a working democracy without a working political party system. Our parties do not aggregate any coherent ideological vision of Nigeria’s developmental future, nor do they evince any organizational strength. We don’t have the luxury of well-managed parties anymore. We have Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for getting to political offices,” Dr. Amadi lamented.
He further stressed that political parties are essential in presenting policy options to citizens and ensuring their implementation when in power. “If we do not have functional political parties, how do we present coherent policy options to citizens with the assurance that those policies will be implemented when we get to power? This is the reason why both presidential candidates abandon campaign promises once they get to office. There is no governing party.”
Dr. Amadi argued that the Labour Party of Nigeria offers the clearest possibility of reviving democracy in the country, despite its current challenges and crises. He noted that the party’s symbolism resonates with the working people of Nigeria, who have suffered under the current political class.
“The Labour Party is important for the revival of democracy in Nigeria because it offers the clearest possibility of bringing back high-energy politics that is rooted in a popular movement for social change. In spite of present crisis of the party and its trajectory of repeated failure to become what it is in its name; Labour Party has the most appealing symbolism that can be used to lead a mass movement for national redemption and development.”
Dr. Amadi called for the redemption of the Labour Party, led by the working people and patriotic politicians, to drive a mass movement for national redemption and development. He emphasized that Nigeria needs a second emancipation, driven by patriotic and developmentalist politicians working with the leadership of the working people and the masses of Nigeria.
“Nigeria is in dire need of a mass movement, a mass movement of a different kind, a mass movement that involves patriotic politicians, conscientious religious leaders, and genuine cultural leaders who rightly interpret the moment as a moment of re-founding of the Nigerian republic.”
To achieve this, Dr. Amadi proposed the development of a coherent set of policy platforms that reflect labour aspirations and guarantee Nigerians a life of happiness and freedom. He also emphasized the need for strategic partnerships with stakeholder communities and movements to break away from the cycle of underdevelopment and authoritarianism.
“We need to develop a coherent set of policy platforms that are true to labour aspirations and effective in guaranteeing to Nigerians a life of happiness and freedom. LP leaders should anticipate that its electoral success depends largely on whether it can build strategic and principled partnership with several political, professional, and communal movements to break away from the reinforcing circle of underdevelopment and authoritarianism.”
The 2-day Extraordinary Workshop on Capacity Building for Development through Popular Political Participation was convened on the heels of the prevailing socio-political and economic situation in the country, the need for genuine electoral reforms to rescue the country from maladministration and mismanagement.
Attendees were drawn from the academia, NLC Political Commission and labour leaders from across the country, Labour Party National Transition Committee (LP-NTC) stakeholders, led by the LP-NTC chairman, Abdulwaheed Omar, representatives of civil society, election observation organizations, media heads, among others.
Also at the event were Comrade Biodun Olamosun, Senator Victor Lar, Prof. Mohammed J. Kuna, Mr. Jude Idu, Media & Civil Society Observer, Comrade Tony Akeni, Chairman NTC Sub-committee on Media & Publicity, Alhaji Salisu Mohammed and Engr. Balarabe Gambo, NTC Chairman on Stakeholders Engagement, NLC labour chieftain Comrade Rose Amara; former Acting National Chairman of Labour Party, Comrade Mrs. Mariam Labeke; representive of Women & Youths, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Rita Guyit; NTC stakeholder Comrade Joe Ndirang; Chief navigator of the workshop and frontline support pilot of the NLC Political Commission, Comrade Chris Uyot; Dr. Dickson Okundaye, Chairman NTC Sub-committee on Mobilization; Dr. Joe Ndirang, Kabir Garba, Comrade Kabir Garba Tsanni, Secretary of NTC, Engr. Nwauwa Nnawuihe, Gen. Essien Enang (Rtd), Amb. Nnamdi Chukwu, Comrade (Chief) Beatrice Itubo, Prof. Euginia Member George-Genyi, Development Expert, Dr. E. Jasper E. Uche, among others.
