Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River has called for independent candidacy in the Nigerian electioneering process. He expressed this notion while speaking at the Nigeria Symposium for Young and Emerging Leaders held at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Mr. Duke highlighted the need to review the Nigerian Constitution regarding independent candidacy in order to encourage young and competent Nigerians to run for political office.
“Nigeria’s democracy is growing, but the country will fare better if young Nigerians play active roles in determining governance. The situation in Nigeria will not change unless the youths are actively invested in moving the country forward. Youths need to stop asking for things and start making demands,” Duke said.
Supporting his position, Ambassador Dayo Israel, Chairmanship Aspirant for Lagos Mainland, emphasised that young and versatile Nigerians have important roles to play in the long-term development of the nation.
“A system that consciously subverts merit, competence, ability, capacity and hard work cannot progress,” Israel said. “This is the tragedy of the Nigerian system, and if our democracy must grow, we must ensure internal democracy and independent candidacy form a part of our electoral process. Africa must open its space to emerging leaders.”
Powered by The Future Project in partnership with National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Y!/YNaija.com, the Nigeria Symposium for Young and Emerging Leaders brings together leaders in politics, business, media, and more to discuss issues and challenges of open government and active citizenship.
Click on the links below to watch highlights from the symposium:
People need to stand and demand from government – Donald Duke
Things don’t happen people make things happen – Donald Duke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw-RlQu8_gw
I do not have to join a political party to run for election – Japheth Omojuwa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbb1vsZnqJ8
Is Buhari’s administration transparent? – Peter Obi
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About The Future Project
The Future Project has a mandate to build empowered citizens across Africa, through (inclusive) enterprise and (active) citizenship. This focus on Human Capital Development is informed by our value proposition: Africa’s growth needs a generation of young people who are gainfully employed and able to demand and secure better leadership.
Projects include Aiki.ng, an employability portal presented with Microsoft; the Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging Leaders, #StartupsAfrica, Intern4Jobs, YMonitor.org presented with National Endowment for Democracy (NED), The Future Enterprise Support Scheme and The Future Awards Africa, described as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young Africans’.
Founded by the Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams, TFP is supervised by a Global Board of Advisors drawn from Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East, including the Coordinating Minister of the Nigerian Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Senior Economic Advisor with the Open Society Foundations, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili; co-founder of ONE, Jamie Drummond and the Chief of Cabinet with the Africa Development Bank, Anne Kabagambe.
4 comments
Want mr Duke as our next president come 2019
Our president 2019
Please give us Donald Duke for spiritual and economic prosperity of Nigeria. We need young and clean people now to pilot the affairs of our country.
I support Donald duke during his dispensation he really transform cross river state