By Saminu Ibrahim
A group, To Build a Nation (TBAN), has canvassed a reformed electoral system that will give democracy real meaning in Nigeria.
Indeed, the group also demanded for a new constitution that comes from the people of Nigeria themselves as a compact they have all agreed, and one that establishes a restructured Nigeria as a real federation that can set her potential free to thrive.
The convener of TBAN, Professor Kingsley Moghalu made the call at a press conference held Thursday in Abuja.
Moghalu, who spoke through Jide Akintunde stated that TBAN is a people’s movement, but non partisan in nature.
He said “To Build a Nation (TBAN) is a non-partisan movement of Nigerians who share a vision of a different Nigeria, a departure from the old, failed ways of doing things that have kept the vast majority of Nigerians in poverty.
“We cannot rely on anyone but ourselves, the citizens, to lead the birth of a new order if our leaders can’t lead, because they have no vision. Where there is no vision, the people perish”.
Acccording to Moghalu, Nigeria is at a crossroads politically, adding that the country is divided as never before.
He noted that division cannot thrive where a country’s leadership has a vision, the will and capacity to unify it’s people.
He explained that the future of the youth is increasingly being stolen by an absence of vision and inter-generational equity, and by the desperation of entrenched forces of retrogression.
“Where the state appears unable to meet its most basic duty of securing our lives and welfare, citizens must stand up, speak up, and organize to offer a path forward” Moghalu said.
He added that the mission of TBAN among others was to restore credibility in the electoral process, stressing “we cannot have good leaders if we don’t have good electoral process”.
Also speaking, TBAN Head of Strategy Committee, Pascal Odibo, said this is time for ideas, emphasising that “there is no messiah coming to save Nigerians, it is you that have to leave your comfort zone, and I have to leave my comfort zone” Odibo added.
