Jega: APC, PDP have failed Nigerians — they will never bring change

Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have failed to change the country for the better.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Jega said both political parties are not determined to bring about the change citizens want to see.

While the PDP ruled the country from 1999 till 2015, the ruling APC took over power in 2015.

The professor said citizens must not watch and allow “insincere” leaders to plunder the country.

“We shouldn’t continue folding our arms looking at these insincere people plundering our country; they would never bring change. On my own, I am now in PRP and I’ve registered from ward level and I did that to see what kind of contribution I’d bring forth to Nigeria,” he said.

“We have seen both APC and the PDP’s leadership style, they are not determined to bring about the desired change.

“Look at the fight against corruption, all those that were said to have looted under the PDP and would face trial are now decamping into APC and that’s the end of it.”

Jega said the agitation by separatists is a sign of poor leadership.

“From my own hypothesis, being a political science lecturer, there’s serious concern in today’s Nigeria’s politics as some are now clamoring for the country’s disintegration and similar agitations,” he said.

“All these are borne out of poor leadership, mistrust, self-aggrandisement and egocentrism have become order of the day while uprightness and trust have been relegated by the leadership class.”