FORMER Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega on Wednesday stated that the ruling elite currently in control of the governance process are reckless and as a result blindly running the country aground.
Prof Jega stated that Nigeria is in the process of collapsing as result of the recklessness of the ruling elite. Jega made the declaration on Wednesday in Abuja at the Workers’ Political Conference organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Jega said as a result of the current situation in the country, 2023 general elections may be the ‘make or break’ moment as Nigeria is indeed at a point when the issue of national emancipation and qualitative development that will be of benefit to all Nigerians needed to be consciously promoted by patriotic Nigerians, particularly Nigerian workers.
Jega therefore called on all progressive elements to collectively join forces to avert the purported imminent collapse of the country.
Prof Jega said: “The sorry state of the socio-economic conditions under which the Nigerian working people, indeed the overwhelming majority of all citizens live and work, the reckless misrule and mis-governance by a tiny, rabid and reckless band of elite, and the manner by which these myopic ‘elected’ so-called ‘leaders’ and their collaborators, have devastated the Nigerian economy, heightened insecurity, and virtually destroyed the basis for national cohesion and integration, Nigeria, as a potentially great nation, is crying for a rescue mission, before it is too late.
“Such a rescue mission cannot be serious, positive and successful, without the active engagement and involvement of the Nigerian workers through their genuine representatives in working-class organizations and movements, in alliance with other progressive and patriotic Nigerians.
“While Nigeria may not have totally collapsed, it is in the process of collapsing, as reckless elite in control of the governance process are blindly running the country aground. And the 2023 general elections may be the ‘make or break’ epochal moment.
“Given this, all hands of progressive forces must be on deck to prevent our country from imminent collapse, and to turn it around on to a trajectory of good democratic governance for beneficial democratic, socio-economic development, and human security for Nigerian citizens.
“A broad alliance of progressive forces for national rescue and emancipation is absolutely required to get Nigeria out of the current unwholesome predicament in which it finds itself.
“The deliberations at this conference, guided by the lead paper presentation and panel discussion, should help us chart a course for a reinforced commitment to national emancipation and more active engagement participation of Nigerian workers in our current and future political processes.”
