Former governor of Delta State and ex-presidential running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday, disclosed that there is a disconnect between Nigerians and government at all levels.
Okowa disclosed this during the annual conference of the Forum of former Deputy Governors of Nigeria 2026 Conference in Abuja.
He noted that there is also a gap between the "policy formulation, implementation and citizens' everyday life."
According to Okowa: "This leads to a disconnect between the governed and the government at all levels, including the federal and the sub-national levels.
"A social contract exists between the government and the governed who desire clarity on governmental policies and actions, especially as it affects their daily lives.
"Nation building can only succeed when leaders and citizens operate in the same world.
"A social contract builds on trust, accountability, inclusion, and shared responsibility. Over the years, the citizens have rightly or wrongly felt disconnected from the government as their expectations, needs, and aspirations appear not to have been reasonably met.
"There is a lack of trust, weak citizens' participation in policy formulation, inadequate public services, and some segments of the society, the youths, the women, people living with disabilities and disadvantaged communities feel either excluded or inadequately cared for.
"The consequence is the weakening of the social contracts between the states and its citizens."