The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has canvassed an attitudinal change towards ideological politics as a means of strengthening and sustaining democracy in Nigeria.
He lamented that lack of ideology driven politics has been the bane of Nigeria’s politics, with politicians treating political parties as mere avenues to attain power.
Uzodimma spoke in Abuja at an address he delivered at the unveiling of the Progressive Institute, a think tank organ set up by the All Progressive Congress (APC).
He noted that time has come for Nigerian politicians to embrace ideological driven politics and jettison the old way of treating political parties as objects of mercantalism.
He condemned what he described as freestyle wrestling in politics, calling instead for ” the incubation of ideas to drive the political process.”
Uzodimma who is the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum declared, ” After many years of trial and error with democracy and after the feat of 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, the time has come for our politics and our political parties to be driven solely by ideology “
He noted that the Progressive Institute established by APC would certainly address the question of ideology driven politics by clearly identifying those who are truly progressives.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the leader of APC, has since his years in politics left no one in doubt as to where he stands, thus setting an example for others to follow.
Uzodimma said Tinubu and APC deserve commendation for the establishment of the institute as a think tank and resource centre not only for Nigeria but Africa.
In his address entitled, SUSTAINING PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGY AS A BEDROCK OF DEMOCRACY, the Governor expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the institute, saying it was following in the footsteps of Democratic Leadership Council which founded the Progressive Policy Institute in Washington DC in 1989 as a centrist democratic institution.
Uzodimma said that with the coming on board of the Progressive Institute, the vision of APC for Nigeria will become clearer.
Said he ” this institute represents our commitment to turning progressive concepts into real ,lasting change for every Nigerian because progressive ideology goes beyond political philosophy “
He commended the management of the institute for envisioning an organisation that will attract the best of brains as well as drive the concept of good governance.
He announced that the Imo state government will encourage the institute by partnering with it on the training of the soon to be elected chairmen and councillors in the state.