Agwai lists challenges to growth of democracy

By Kingsley Omonobi

ABUJA — Former Chief of Army Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy and those of other countries in Africa were in danger of being run aground unless issues of corruption and ignorance, as well as free and fair elections are tackled and given the attention they deserve.

Said Agwai: “It is a good development that most African countries are now presided over by democratic governments. There are democratic structures that still need to be strengthened. But corruption and ignorance, issues of free and fair elections, are still major challenges that could truncate democracy and completely erode the gains made towards good governance”.

Speaking on the occasion of the ‘2010 Visionary Award’ which was presented to him by the UN’s African Centre for Strategic Studies, in Lisbon, Portugal,weekend, the former CDS said: “The problems facing Africa today, such as violent conflicts, poverty and hunger are mostly human created problems. They can, therefore, be resolved through human efforts, understanding and development of various developmental structures.”

“Much has been done in resolving in resolving conflicts in Africa , however, there are still many challenges facing the continent. Most African countries are barely coming out of military governments which are some of the reasons for disaffection and lack of confidence between the military, civil population and the various rights group”.