Business magnate and political strategist, Prince Tonye Princewill, has warned that Africa’s progress will continue to falter unless politics is redefined as a platform for service rather than a contest for power.

Princewill made the remark in Port Harcourt on Tuesday while chairing the opening session of the first international conference on “Advancing Politics and Governance for Sustainable Development,” organised by the Centre for Politics, University of Port Harcourt.

The event, themed “Politics, Resource Governance and Sustainable Development in Africa,” brought together participants from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

According to Princewill, “When politics is reduced to competition for power, rather than the platform for service, progress falters. When governance becomes transactional, instead of transformational, development becomes a mirage. But when politics is guided by vision and verifiable impact, and when governance is rooted in transparency, inclusion, and accountability, nations rise.”

Also speaking at the event, Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, decried the declining voter turnout witnessed across African elections despite rising political mobilisation costs.

“You find striking evidence of this in the continued decline of voters’ turnout over successive elections, despite the rising cost of political mobilization,” Otti said, urging African leaders to rebuild public confidence in governance through accountability and citizen engagement.

In his welcome remarks, the Director of the Centre for Politics, Professor Fidelis Allen, said Africa’s future depends on how effectively it manages its economic resources, stressing that political will and inclusive governance are vital to the continent’s sustainable development.

When politics is reduced to competition for power, progress falters — Princewill