June 12: Nigerian leaders have failed to meet Nigerians’ expectations – Plateau Speaker

Hon. Gabriel Dewan, the speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, in his message to commemorate 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, said Nigerian leaders have failed to perform their responsibilities.

The speaker said this while briefing journalists in Jos, the state capital, said that even though many countries that adopted democracy after Nigeria’s independence have already developed their countries, it is unfortunate that despite the country’s natural resources, Nigeria is still lagging in terms of development.

He said, “To be fair to Nigerians, if democracy is about the government of the people, by the people and for the people,  and considering the natural resources that the country is endowed with, we have failed Nigerians.

“Without apology, I am saying this, we, the leaders of this country, have failed Nigerians because Nigeria ought to be far better than this considering the Natural resources. There are countries that are not richer than Nigeria but are far better than us. That is why, at a point, some of us felt it was better we go back to the military or not because most of the infrastructures built in this country are by the military. If I am to score the performance of Nigeria from 1999 to date, I will say 7% out of 100% in all sectors.”

Buttressing his position on development in the country, the speaker said, “It is only in Nigeria today that the Minister of health is seeking medical attention at private hospitals rather than public hospitals. It is in Nigeria that the Minister of education takes his children to private schools rather than public schools. Common LGA chairmen are not enrolling their children in public schools. This is to tell you the kind of democracy we are running  in this country.”

Dewan, however, said for the country to be developed, leaders must take their responsibilities as leaders and be patriotic, emphasising that there was a need for a total overhaul of democracy practice in Nigeria and that what the country was practising was not democracy.

He called on the leaders to rethink and provide services for the betterment of the country rather than themselves.