By David Odama (In Lafia, Nasarawa State)
As the 2023 political space is gradually gaining momentum, the Forum of former National Assembly Lawmakers has called for an entrenchment of National cohesion, unity, teamwork and good governance for the sustenance of the nation's politics.
The Forum also seek for entrenchment of policies and programmes that will reduce the untold hardships Nigerians were going through.
Interim National Chairman of the forum, Honourable Ibrahim Zailani, who made the call in an interview, said National integration, cohesion and good governance was what the nation required to overcome the seemingly overwhelming hardship Nigerians were going through.
According to Zailani, integration, understanding of one another, accepting each other's views and opinion, would not only deepen the nation's democratic system, but entrench good governance, bring religious and ethnic harmony among the tribes in the country.
"I'm Challenging the political class and other Nigerians to shun sectionalism, ethnicity, religious bigotry as well as the use of divisive tendencies to cause the disintegration of the country", Zailani declared.
According to the former Special Adviser ex-president Ya'Adua on National Assembly Mathers and the former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Bauchi State, Nigerians especially the political gladiators owed it a duty to deepen the hard earned democratic culture and institutions through the promotion of unity and national cohesion rather than hate speeches that were capable of causing disaffection amongst the people.
He said that the formation of the forum of former National Assembly members from the 4th to the 8th Assembiy, is aimed at institutionalizing good governance, ensure peace, integrate all segments of the country, irrespective of political and religious differences.
"Over 3, 000 of our members across the country came together to foster unity, canvass for good governance, integration of Nigeria and to deepen the nation's hard earned democracy. Our mission is not to fight the government, but to team up and ensure that good governance is institutionalised, deepen the nation's democratic institutions", the forum Chairman stated.
While decrying the position of those canvassing for Zoning and over heating the polity, the former Lawmaker said zoning was anti democratic and does not encourage competence but rather celebrate and sacrifice competence for mediocacy.
He described those propagating zoning as lazy people who are afraid of testing their popularity, adding that politics is about popularity. He warned against micro-zoning of political positions in the name of zoning. NNL.