Former national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, has carpeted the recently conducted local government elections in Enugu State, describing the process as? imposition rather than election.
Nwodo, who stated this in Abuja while receiving the ‘Icon of Greater Nigeria Award 2011’ conferred on him by the National Association of Northern Nigerian Students (NANNS), also declared that until internal democracy was enthroned in all the political parties, Nigeria will not get true leadership.
Nwodo, who also served as the national secretary of PDP, decried god-fatherism in the polity and lamented the prevailing lack of integrity within the political class, adding that corruption at all levels had ravished the country.
“Until we restore internal democracy; until votes count, the true leadership of Nigeria will not emerge and we will be tumbling from pillar to post. That is the biggest problem. We have to go back to when we will elect our authentic leaders.
“Look at me; as I speak, I don’t know who my local government chairman is. They never campaigned: they just sit somewhere and announce results. When we are not given an opportunity to choose, how can we choose the best one? We are the parents of these children; we know them. The person imposed did not even come to us,” he said.
On his part, NANNS national president, Ibrahim Ali, said the award conferred on Nwodo was in recognition of the reforms his administration sought at a time the ruling PDP was in dire need to enthrone the rule of law, transparency and fairness to all party members.