ABUJA — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on Nigerians to assess democracy based on tangible infrastructure and public service delivery rather than solely on electoral processes.
Speaking at a Distinguished Personality Lecture at the University of Abuja, Wike emphasized that democracy is a social contract grounded in accountability, transparency, and citizen participation. “For the ordinary citizen, democracy must translate into roads that work, schools that inspire, hospitals that heal, and opportunities that uplift,” he said, highlighting infrastructure as the most visible measure of governance performance.
Linking leadership failures to national development challenges, Wike echoed the late Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, noting that political leadership determines how effectively institutions and resources serve citizens. He referenced reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including subsidy removal and decentralised development initiatives, as examples of leadership aimed at long-term national interest.
Citing ongoing projects in the Federal Capital Territory, Wike pointed to road construction, urban renewal, and satellite town inclusion as evidence that focused governance can turn democratic authority into practical outcomes. He also urged universities to nurture civic awareness and accountability, preparing students to engage in nation-building.
Concluding his lecture, Wike stressed that Nigeria’s democratic future depends on ethical leadership, active citizen participation, and infrastructure that improves living standards, calling for continued dialogue on governance reforms.
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