The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, on Wednesday, advised political parties to work more on implementing their manifestos rather than just saying it.
Jianchun spoke at a seminar on ‘The 20th National Congress of COC: Outcomes and significance for Nigeria and Africa’ held in Abuja.
Quoting a Chinese philosopher, the envoy noted that Nigeria needed a strong party to lead the country, stressing that “It is not about the planned manifesto but how it can be implemented.”
Jianchun added that it was a welcome idea to have Nigerian political party leaders and other African leaders observed the Communist Party of China congress.
The envoy said, “I think it is a good idea. Really, I believe that the CPC can do a lot for political parties in Nigeria because I believe that parties are not about power but about people, development, and how leaders can achieve good visions for their country.
“I got information that Nigerians and other African countries suggested China to invite leaders of the party to not only observe the congress but to attend seminars and the every five-year congress. Chinese lessons and experience are very important for Nigerians to learn from.”
On his part, a former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, said campaigns and congress should be a platform into the leadership process of the country.
Sani therefore stressed the need for political parties to learn from China.
He also urged the Chinese government to invite political party leaders to their congress to observe the political process.
Sani said, “On the theme of this occasion and from the lecture we have just received, there are a lot of things that Nigeria can learn from China though we have fundamental differences in terms of politics.
“The CPC meets once in every five years to review what had been done in the last five and project ahead what needs to be done in the next five years.
“But in Nigeria, political parties meet once in four years but for elections to make sure that people get into offices through primaries and we do not meet to discuss what happened in the last four years and what will happen in the next four years.
“What I will like is that periodically, it is important that each time CPC is having such congress, leaders of our political parties need to be invited even as observers to see how to organise and coordinate a political party. They will also learn how political parties can serve as a source of platform and leading pilots into the leadership process of the country.”
Speaking at the event, the Director of the Centre for China Studies, Charles Onunaiju, said campaigns should be a platform to identify and engage challenges.
He stressed that political campaign was a serious business that reflected how politicians or political parties had been faithful to its people.
The director said, “I think the general issue is that party congress should be focused on solving problems. It should not be a jamboree. Party congress in China drew up a road map, it is not about a candidate wanting to be this or that.’’
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