Parties undemocratic

When the multiparty system of government was introduced in the early 1990s, the country breathed a sigh of relief.

An era of competitive politics was ushered in and everyone got a chance to vie for elective office, unlike before when Kanu ran roughshod over everyone and locked out of politics anyone with divergent views.

Two decades later, the country seems to have descended into confusion. Too many parties have sprung up with the sole objective of catapulting their “owners” to the presidency, and few aspire to offer transformative leadership.

Not surprisingly, politicians shamelessly change parties like clothes. Worse, the parties are tightly controlled by individuals who abhor opposition.

But now all the parties are caught up in a bind, which explains the confusion. The intolerance and intimidation in the parties bode ill for the country.

This is because their leaders cannot be trusted with the instruments of power when they are undemocratic and lack any political ideology, which is a great tragedy.

Unless they change, the parties risk derailing the country’s quest for democracy and good governance.