ShorVietnam envoy on people-centred party discipline urges Nigerian parties, including APC, to adopt strong discipline, internal democracy and citizen-focused governance
The Ambassador of Vietnam to Nigeria, Mr Bui Hung, on Wednesday in Abuja said Nigerian political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress, could draw critical lessons from the nearly 100-year history of the Communist Party of Vietnam, particularly in people-centred governance, discipline and internal democracy.
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Mr Hung made the remarks while addressing journalists ahead of the forthcoming national congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, offering reflections on the party’s origins, structure and longevity.
The ambassador said the foremost lesson was that a political party’s mandate must be rooted in the interests of ordinary citizens, noting that the Communist Party of Vietnam was founded by common people rather than political elites.
According to Mr Hung, discipline played a decisive role in the party’s survival and growth, even when its membership was small. He said strong adherence to ideology and internal rules helped the party to build a resilient and well-organised structure across all levels.
“When we formed our party nearly a hundred years ago, the members were only a few hundred and later a few thousand,” Mr Hung said. “But we maintained very strong discipline because we had a clear theory that placed people at the centre.”
The envoy also identified internal democracy as a powerful pillar of political sustainability, stressing the importance of open debate and the willingness of party leaders to listen to dissenting views and public opinion.
He said political parties must remain responsive to the wishes and aspirations of citizens to ensure that their policies remain relevant and credible.
Mr Hung urged Nigerian parties, both ruling and opposition, to adopt clear mandates that prioritise citizens’ welfare over partisan or elite interests, describing people as the true drivers and beneficiaries of development.
He further called on parties to focus on economic cooperation, openness to trade and investment, and improved security as essential ingredients for national growth and stability.
The comments come amid renewed debate in Nigeria over internal party democracy, ideological direction and the capacity of political parties to deliver people-focused governance.
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Founded in 1930, the Communist Party of Vietnam has remained in power for decades and is widely credited with steering the country through independence, reconstruction and economic reforms that lifted millions out of poverty.
