Democracy can’t survive without strong political parties —Sambo

By Taye Obateru & Hope Ofobike
Jos—Vice President, Namadi Sambo, yesterday, declared that democracy
cannot survive without strong politicalparties.
He stated this at the commissioning of the Political Party Leadership
and Development Centre of the National Institute for Policy and
Strategic Studies, NIPPS, Kuru, Plateau State.
Represented by the Special Adviser, Political Matters in his office,
Senator Isaiah Balat, Sambo said, although the tendency has been to
pay more attention to governmental bodies and civic institutions,
political parties actually oil the democratic wheel.
Sambo said: "More concern is often shown to the establishment of
governmental bodies and civic organisation, while little attention is
paid to the development of strong political parties. Although both of
the civil societies and other government bodies are important in every
nation but without strong and dynamic political parties democracy
cannot survive in the long run."
"Political parties may decline overtimeif they do not make conscious
efforts to strengthen themselves. Leaders of the parties owe
themselves the obligation to take advantage of opportunities offered
by this centre forself-improvement.
"Leadership is developed through a never ending process of self study,
education, training and experience to inspire us. As tomorrow's
leaders thereare certain things we must be, know and do. These do not
come naturally but are rather acquired through continuous work and
training."
He said, although politics, politicians and political parties are
negatively viewed by the public, politics still remain a noble pursuit
as it is about serving the public and improving the lives of citizens.
He restated the commitment of the Jonathan's administration to the
cause of free, fair and credible elections, adding that the
establishment of the centre is an opportunity to raise the capacity of
political parties to play their own role in achieving and sustaining
the objective.