Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, has admonished Nigerians to use the opportunity of the upcoming 2023 general elections to get the country moving again
The Governor who spoke at a birthday symposium for Chief Executive Offiver, Connected Development, Hamzat Lawal, in Abuja, noted that now is the time to push for a new Nigeria as the 2023 general elections draw near, adding that it is in the hands of Nigerians to actualize a new Nigeria of their dream.“These challenges that affect our country today, provide us with the opportunity to take a position and take a stand and walk for the resolution of such challenges.
“Nigeria will belong to those who are prepared to stand up, stand firm and take control of their destinies as the late Senator Robert Kennedy once said, `it is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.“We can all do a bit in our little ways to cause a beautiful change that will lead us to make our country and indeed the world a better place.
“I am personally uncomfortable with the practice of our politics and our political conversation; we should have outgrown bigotry, tribalism and ethnoreligious biases.“It is time to rekindle the candle of a new Nigeria and the coming transition provides another opportunity for us to take a new day at making a new Nigeria of our dream.’’
According to him, leaders are made from the crucible of experience of passion and courage and the readiness to sacrifice because nothing ventured is nothing gained.
“If we trace Hamzat’s history very well from who he was and the focused dedicated and inspirational Youngman he has become, we will see he has taken strongly from these lessons.
“He is the founder of Follow the Money, a civic tech advocacy platform, that has helped in tracking government expenditure and service delivery.’’
He said that some lessons to take away from Hamzat’s story include that for one to succeed, one needs to imbibe certain virtues in life and that is one of the most important things youths often take for granted.
“This is the kind of education that has helped Hamzat. We also need to develop skills that prepare us for selfless leadership through volunteerism, community engagement and mobilisation for collective causes.‘’
Fayemi urged youths to value competence, courage, generosity of spirit, a sense of giving than receiving, being solution providers than complainants, perseverance and delayed gratification to succeed.
Also speaking at the event, the Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Atedo Peterside, eulogised Hamzat as a person of integrity who had achieved a lot and worked hard to build a great reputation.
