Democracy must be matched with development – Nnamani

18.01.2008

former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has said that it was unfortunate that African leaders had not matched democracy with actions aimed at liberating the continent from underdevelopment.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the fifth Media Trust Dialogue, Nnamani said in spite of “democratic governments” in different parts of the continent, poverty was still pervasive in Africa.

“I have been personally troubled by the spate of underdevelopment pervading the greater part of the continent.

“Each time I reflect on the realities of culture of poverty and decay after many years of self rule, I find answers largely in the lack of democratic and transformative leadership in our continent,” he said.

“But for Libya, I cannot readily think of any African state that is under any clear dictatorship, yet very few so-called democratic nations, with their entire natural wealth, can compare with Libya on social infrastructure.

“When we talk about good roads, potable water, hospital care and all the rest, all those are not really democracy dividends, they are indices of development,” he added.

Nnamani said rather, democracy dividends included “freedom, equal opportunities, free, fair and credible elections, rule of law, due process and accountability.