…Say 2023 will offer greater opportunity to reset Nigeria

…Fayemi:  Devolution of power, Fiscal federalism, LG autonomy only solution to nation’s woes

By Ezeocha Nzeh

Prominent Nigerians in government as well as the clergy have emphasized that Nigeria is currently not working as it is faced with numerous challenges

This is even as they have agreed that the 2023 general election will provide a greater opportunity to reset the country and make it more  productive and self reliant

Those who gave this position at the annual Leadership Newspaper  Conference and Award included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Revd. Matthew Kukah; Governor of Ekiti state, Dr Kayode Fayemi; and the First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari.

Speaking on the theme of Conference: ‘Resetting Nigeria: Culture, Politics, Geography and the Role of Big Ideas’, VP Osinbajo, who described himself as a progressive, emphasized the need to create a new Nigeria that is driven by national unity and cohesion.

According to him, “Those of us who belong to the political tendency that is loosely described as the progressive, agree on certain principles that we must create a country that works for us all.

“That is, a peaceful and secure society founded on law and order and the rule of law, a society that enables commerce and values productivity so that large and small businesses can grow and provide jobs and opportunities for the millions of young people, a society where no one is left behind, a united and tolerant nation where all irrespective of ethnicity or religion or political persuasion are respected treated fairly and justly and have equal access to all opportunities.”

IN his remarks, Governor Kayode Fayemi noted that political systems were not meant to remain static in time and space, but rather were expected by design and the force of circumstances to undergo a regular process of reset.

The Ekiti who like Osinbajo is also seeking the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2023 general elections, argued that where political systems have become ossified in spite of unfolding and cumulative change, a breakdown of order may not be too far away.

Fayemi said, “Successful political systems are, therefore, those that have a robust capacity to self-correct and re calibrate in a timely, efficient and even anticipatory manner.

“Even where the opportunity for a timely reset is lost, successful political systems are able to undertake a swift course correction before a full-scale crisis of legitimacy and sustainability sets in.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that our country Nigeria is in dire need of an all round reset as an imperative of national rebirth.”

He added that changing conditions have produced an objective demand for a new reset to correct the challenges that have emerged; stressing that the correction called for should span a political, economic, geographic, territorial and cultural aspects of the country.

He emphasized further that decentralisation of the polity, the strengthening of the local government system, the devolution of more powers over safety and security to the states, the adoption of a fairer system of fiscal federalism, the development new approaches to diversity management, adding that the autonomy of the legislative arm of government, the wholesale reform of the justice system and the revamping of the civil service are some of the areas that require a reset for a a working Nigeria.

Earlier in his keynote address, Bishop Matthew Kukah, who was represented by Rev. Fr. Patrick Alumuku, harped on the need for political leaders to cultivate a heightened sense of imagination to be able to identify solutions in the face of daunting challenges and propel the people towards those goals through politics.

“A nation can only grow if it understands the concept of big ideas. For any society that wishes to grow, those who lead must be educated philosopher-kings.

“Elections are important, but they must be clearly aimed at facilitating and not limiting the growth of new ideas. Big ideas will grow in an area that encourages competition and merit.

“Our failure is in our hands, based on the choices we ourselves make. The Nigerian state in its present form does not appreciate the value of big ideas. That is why men and women of the underworld are now in charge.

“Whereas it is important to be concerned about social order, non-state actors must not be allowed to use tradition and dogma to limit human imagination.”

The Bishop stressed the need for the government to pay greater attention to education, saying that the nation can only conquer nepotism and prebendalism with proper education of both the leaders and the citizens.

“Once education replaces tribe, religion, and region as a means of accessing the levers of power, then the society has hope that big ideas can grow and blossom and defeat mythologies,” he added.

On her part, the Chairman of Leadership Group Ltd, Mrs. Zainab Nda-Isaiah, called for a system where citizens will be empowered to create solutions and be productive through the availability of accurate information.

Her words, “I have learned to some point the value of accurate data and information and have also seen first inaccurate or false information can have.

“Information is gold. If properly mined to solve problems can be of great advantages to us all in our personal affairs, businesses and nation.”