By Nefishetu Yakubu
A former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, says democracy extends beyond periodic elections and must be anchored on the rule of law, strong institutions and internal party democracy.
Ganduje stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the public presentation of a book: “Nigeria’s Journey to Democratic Rule”, written by the Abuja Bureau chief of New Telegraph, Mr Onyekachi Eze-Odezulu.
According to him, democracy is much more than elections held every four years.
“It is built on the rule of law, constitutional order, credible electoral institutions and political parties that practise internal democracy,” he said.
The former Kano State governor stated that documenting Nigeria’s democratic evolution was a patriotic contribution that would preserve the country’s political history for future generations.
Although he noted that the country’s democratic journey had been long and challenging, Ganduje, however, said that it had continued to progress through the resilience of its institutions and citizens.
He recalled his first electoral contest in 1979, saying that he resigned his university lecturing job to contest for the House of Representatives in spite of knowing that his party lacked the popularity.
“I believed in the manifesto of my party and its nationalistic outlook. Although I lost the election, that experience became part of my democratic journey,” he stated.
The former APC national chairman, however, decried what he called the absence of clear ideological distinctions among political parties, saying that it had weakened Nigeria’s democratic culture and encouraged defections driven by personal interests.
He commended the author for carefully documenting key milestones in Nigeria’s democratic history, describing the book as an important contribution to scholarship and national discourse.
According to him, while the publication as timely and significant, serves as both a historical record and a guide for political leaders, scholars, students and policy makers interested in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion and former Governor of Nasarawa State, Sen. Tanko Al-Makura, represented by a former aide, described the book as an important historical document.
Al-Makura said understanding Nigeria’s political history remained essential to appreciating the country’s democratic progress and preparing future generations for responsible leadership.
“History remains humanity’s greatest teacher. This book reminds us of the sacrifices, struggles and triumphs that produced our present democratic dispensation,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, described the publication as a valuable reference material for researchers and students.
The minister, represented by the Director of Publication in the ministry, Ibidapo Okunnu, said the book was coming at a time Nigeria needed factual documentation of its transition from military rule to democratic governance.
The book reviewer, Prof. Rufai Alkali, said the publication offered a balanced account of Nigeria’s transition from military rule to constitutional democracy.
Alkali noted that the work documented major political developments between 1986 and 1999, including the June 12 crisis, the transition programmes and the eventual return to civilian rule.
In his goodwill message, the National Publicity Secretary of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said democracy required democratic institutions and leaders committed to constitutional governance.
“The absence of military rule alone does not automatically translate into democracy. We must continue building institutions that uphold democratic values,” he said.
The author, in his remarks, said he wrote the book to preserve important events in Nigeria’s democratic history for younger generations.
“If we do not document our history, future generations will not understand the sacrifices that produced today’s democracy,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured the unveiling of the book, goodwill messages from political leaders and donations toward the publication(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
NY/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq