Former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarebe Musa has said those priviledged to occupy public positions in the country from 1999 to date are nothing but ‘a bunch of corrupt, selfish and irresponsible people.’
The elder statesman said this on the sidelines of democracy day celebrations in Nigeria.
The outspoken former governor noted that the country is yet to enjoy any tangible gain since the inception of democracy in 1999.
“All that Nigerians have experienced from 1999 to date is a military dictatorship transferring power to a civilian dictatorship,” he explained to Daily Post in Kaduna.
Asked about how democracy has fared in Nigeria, Balarabe said: “Where is the democracy you are talking about? Who is practicing democracy in Nigeria? Who is benefiting from democracy in Nigeria?
“When the military handed over power to a military dictator and later handed over power to his chosen civilian dictator, is that democracy? And again the same military dictator is in power dictating to Nigerians what is to be done, and you call that democracy?”
In this political dispensation, he explained, Nigerians are yet to test what democracy is all about, adding that, “Democracy in its true word has lost its value in the present political dispensation because we are being led by selfish and greedy people that call themselves politicians.”
He noted that what Nigerians needed to do to free themselves from slavery was to embark on peaceful revolution in all spheres of life in the country with the view to ensuring that only people with patriotic and nationalistic belief be elected into elective positions to continue from the foundation laid by the founding fathers of the country.
“What we consider as political leaders since 1999 to date are only but a bunch of corrupt, selfish and irresponsible people that do not have the interest of the country at heart, but only to enrich themselves to the detriment of all Nigerians,” he observed.
Speaking on insecurity in Kaduna State and the Southern Kaduna in particular, Alhaji Balarebe Musa opined that its main cause was those in power who always cause conflict at a slightest provocation.
The present administration in the state, he said, had failed to involve stakeholders in the state in exploring possible ways to ensuring peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic groups. “Failrue to carry every stakeholder along in arriving at critical decisions meant to ensure better understanding will continue to be wasteful efforts by the state government in its attempts to bring an end to the incessant crisis in the Southern part of the state.
“There is poverty in the state, and unless this issue is urgently addressed, it may be a mirage to think of tackling insecurity in a situation where majority are roaming the streets aimlessly without any hope of tomorrow.
“The fundamental issues that have become main source of concern in the state have to be addressed by the government of the day if it is thinking of making remarkable impact. True reconciliation must be seen to be made among the various ethnic groups, if not any coercive decision will not be in the interest of the majority.”