A new book, titled “Nigeria: Democracy without Development. How to fix it.” which will be publicly presented on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at Shehu Musa Yar’adua Center, Abuja is set to provide readers with an incisive account of the factors that explain the development deficits in Nigeria, the author of the book has explained.
The Author of the book, Dr. Omano Edigheji, a renowned political economist, development practitioner, governance expert, and currently, the Special Adviser on Research and Documentation to Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State explained that the book, published by A’Lime Media Limited is also out to proffer practical solutions on how electoral politics deficiencies can be overcome and suggest how Nigeria can promote inclusive development.
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“About two decades ago, Nigeria became a democratic country with the military handing over the reins of command to an elected civilian leader. Not much has changed since that historic event. The #EndSars protests and its effects bear credence to the stunted development that has characterized the nation since democracy. Much more than the dehumanizing treatment of youths by the now-defunct unit, the protests were spurred by the pent-up anger over the maladministration, injustice, high fuel and energy prices, hunger, and dehumanizing policies of the government,” the author of the book has explained.
The book provides the reader with an incisive account of the factors that explain the development deficits – rising poverty, inequality, unemployment, and the general deteriorating conditions of Nigerians – of democracy in Nigeria. Based on the analysis, Dr. Edigheji proffers solutions on how to save democracy in the country.
According to the author, “Every part of Nigeria is a victim of the poor management of the country by inept political leaders since independence. Secession is unlikely to bring development to any part of the country, and we do not look any farther than the quest for states and local governments – the creation of more states and local governments have not resulted in the desired development of the country. With the right leadership, Nigeria’s diversity can be its strength,” he noted.
The author has over twenty years of experience in government, academia, not-for-profit development foundations, and civil society.
He holds a PhD in Political Science, with a specialization in the political economy of development, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Dr Edigheji has convened and facilitated several multi-stakeholder forums on issues of human rights, public sector reform, industrial development, economic reform, and higher education transformation. He has published extensively, including three books, ‘The Future and Relevance of Nigerian Universities and other Tertiary Institutions’ (co-editor, September 2016); ‘Constructing a Democratic Developmental State in South Africa: Potentials and Challenges (editor, HSRC Press, 2010); and Governance in the New South Africa: The Challenges of Globalization (co-editor, University of Cape Town Press, 2003).
The book launch will have in attendance, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, as Chief Host and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State, as the chairman alongside a cross-section of political, traditional, religious and business leaders, leading experts in academia and civil society organizations.
