Let's bury the hatchets and deal with our nation building challenges

 

My dear friends, compatriots and colleague party Chairmen.

That the nation and our democracy are suffocating is well known. I have actively participated in National politics for over 30yrs, and in party building and leadership for over 20. From my experience, we have not had it so low. Parties are nothing without democracy. The last 21years have groomed many of us in party administration and leadership many thanks to International Democratic agencies and the UN. The experienced men and women in this space are like never before in our history. With all the experience we have gained, to allow this democracy regime to fail will remain an eternal stain on all of us. As a result, we cannot remain akinbo. We can use IPAC and the Political Parties Leadership Development Institute as the organic solution and processing engine room and stop wasting time on trivialities.

As we all know, Political parties are products of the constitution and recognized by laws of the land. Whether it is *ADC, APC, ADP, LP, ACCORD, YPP, APGA, AA, PDP or any of the other parties,* it does not matter how many elected members of such parties at any moment. This also applies to the different tiers and arms of government, and regulatory agencies, commissions and parastatals in the nation. IPAC falls into same bouquet. We are all products of law.
What causes the tension and toxicity in the political space is impunity, reckless grandstanding, arrogance and flagrant disregard of processes, rules of law and order by political players and office holders. Whimsical disobedience of the law often creates toxic environmental conditions that erodes institutional integrity and weakens the systems in place. All these have the potency to keep the nation in a comatose state.
The Interparty Advisory Council IPAC was created with the assistance of international democratic agencies to grow and strengthen parties and the democratic space in Nigeria for sustainable development and robust and disciplined interface and culture.
As political party leaders we must be mindful of our actions and learn to set the tones and codes for political parties operations and members conducts. Most of the players in the polity are party members or they are appointed by them. This includes the legislators and executives at all levels. We should avoid taking opportunistic stances on issues. Whether it privilages us or not, the law is the law. The Interparty Advisory Council IPAC must set its ethical compass to be beyond reproach, and leaders should imbibe a culture that respects the dignity of all human persons, due process, and pronouncements of the courts. No matter the situation, IPAC board cannot become the harbinger or supporters banana or shady entities or processes. Just like the Nigeria Bar Association NBA, Nigeria Medical Association NMA etc, IPAC has a duty to sanitize and set rules and standards for member parties and individual for sanity, good health of all and country and development of the polity. With this my considered frame, I beg all members and political parties leaders to have reexamination of conscience, do deep reflection and let us emback on the agenda of nation building more dutifully to save our democracy and country. We can learn a lot from each other as we make progress.
I do not need to overemphasize that our country is not in the best of health at this time. Although, we have our individual parties to run. Leading ADC alone is a herculean task and is consuming me. I do not need to be told the challenges anyone of you party Chairmen are confronted with on daily bases. But party administration can become easier if we can use IPAC as a body to infuse discipline and sanity to the political and electoral processes. Governance outputs for the citizens will greatly improve when IPAC and parties become effective. This calls for alignment of IPAC again to the original and serious patriotic objectives of its founding. I am engaging international agencies, the UN and governments already to improve learning and capacity building. We have developed templates for regional faculties of PPLDI headquartered in Kuru to bring learning closer to all.
IPAC tenets remain;
1. To prevent excessive tension in the polity by clearly setting the rules of engagement for all political parties.
2. Develop Code of conduct for parties and members.
3. Develop Governance framework that leverages the polity and all the people.
4. Facilitate learning and continuing improvement.
5. Collaborating with election management body to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

If we reckon with all of these with deserving integrity, the character of our politics will be enriched and will impact the operating environment within a short time. In accomplishing the noble objectives. For me these are urgent and patriotic critically task.
I beg all of us as party leaders, we must come together now. A lot has happened since our democratic journey resumed in 1999. What is happening in the polity generally and in Edo state Governorship contest at the moment challenge all of us to the urgency of NOW.

Ralphs Okey Nwosu. National Chairman ADC

And

Acting President
Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria. IPA