Opinion

Why Nigerians must actively participate in 2027 elections — Barde

Muhamed Barde, a prominent politician and economist, has called on Nigerians to play an active role in the upcoming 2027 elections to strengthen the nation’s democracy.

Speaking on TVC’s “Politics on Sunday,” Barde emphasized the importance of accountability, civil society, and citizen engagement in political processes.

“The accountability and role of civil society and citizens’ engagement are crucial.

“Politics is not about maiming or killing—it’s about capital, political power, and the good of the citizens.

There is a social contract between the state and the people of Nigeria, and this contract requires leaders to meet certain expectations,” Barde stated.

Barde lamented the history of political violence in Nigeria but urged citizens to shift their focus toward improving political relationships and governance.

“It is sad that in the past we have had these kinds of experiences in our political life. But going forward, we should focus on how to improve our relationships as members of political parties—both within a party and among different parties,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of political participation, Barde stressed the need for the educated and elite classes to move from mere spectatorship to active engagement.

“The educated class and the elite must take responsibility and actively engage in the system rather than staying on the sidelines,” he argued.

“If competent people and the educated class step forward, many issues we face will not even arise.”

Drawing parallels to history, Barde referenced the election of William McKinley in the United States, where business leaders like J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie united to support a candidate who could address the nation’s challenges.

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“This is the kind of collaboration we need in Nigeria. The political class must rise to strengthen our political parties based on ideological footings and ensure the very best are in leadership positions,” Barde urged.

Barde dismissed regional biases, emphasizing the importance of competence over geographical considerations.

“The issue of rotation between North and South should not even arise. What we want is to see the economy growing. People are hungry across the country; businesses are crumbling, and insecurity remains rampant,” he asserted.

He called for credible candidates who can tackle pressing issues like terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.

“These are the issues that should concern Nigerians and our leaders—getting competent leaders to address these problems is more critical than anything else,” Barde concluded.

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