The ruling Peoples Democractic Party, PDP has been in control of the federal government of Nigeria since the country’s return to democracy in 1999. 13 years on, the voice of the opposition parties in Nigeria seems unheard at the federal level and the presidency and they look very uncoordinated in every way to challenge the PDP, deliver alternative progressive policies against the ruling party’s policies and explore the apathy of groaning Nigerians against the ruling party’s style of government.
Nigerians in the UK and other parts of Europe, friends of Nigeria around the world, members of the international community, selected members of the British parliament and selected members of the African diplomatic corps in the UK will converge at the revered British Parliament’s Portcullis House on 13th Dec, 2012 to Review and assess the effectiveness of the opposition parties in Nigeria against standard practice in emerging and developed democracies around the world. The conference will also make recommendations on ensuring sustainable, effective and participatory democracy in Nigeria.
Confirmed – Speaking at the conference are –
Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; Rt Hon David Lammy British MP, Rt Hon Simon Hughes British MP and deputy leader Liberal Democrats, British House of Commons & the speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji,. Leading the Nigerian business community to speak are Alistair Soyode, conference convener and the chairman of BEN TV & Arise Organisation and Edward Akinlade, the Chair of Suru Group, Nigeria.
The organiser and conference coordinator, Tunde Alabi said ‘Oppostion parties are not only about blanket condemnation of all government policies or personality mudslinging, its more about providing alternative policies to unpopular government policies and shadowing the programmes, activities and implementation strategies of the ruling government, creating awareness against unpopular and retrogressive government agenda’.
The British Parliament’s Portcullis House Dec 13th Conference follows a series of conferences put together by BEN TV UK to create the plaform for Nigerian and British politicians, including the government and the governed, especially the Diaspora to engage in constructive discussion that will ensure participatory democracy and wealth creation.
