By Richard Thomas
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has admonished leaders of the country to consider the well being of the downtrodden masses in the scheme and affairs of the nation.
Professor Jega made the point at a National Conversation programme on Rethinking and Uniting Nigeria, tagged, Collective Action For Harmony And Development Foundation, held at the UI hotels in Ibadan.
According to him, the leadership of the country need to put so many factors affecting the peaceful coexistence and development of the people into consideration and find a lasting solution to these undermining factors.
He also urged the masses to cooperate with the leadership of the country in order to find a common ground for development.
“Nigeria need a rethink and a committed leadership that will identify these factors and find a lasting solution to them all.”
“Nigeria is a great nation with great potentials, the leadership and the people need to work together to move the nation forward.”
In his address at the programme, the keynote speaker, professor Eghosa Osaghe said Nigeria leaders need to have value chain work that will give the people a common sense of belonging.
“Any leader taking up Nigeria must first know Nigeria, the capacities and potentials of Nigerians, this narrative will tell us where we are going, he added.
“I feel very sorry for Nigeria in two separate ways, the greatness of Nigeria is the sum total of whom we are, so we need leaders who understand the things of Nigeria. Leaders who will address the issue and problems of Nigeria must have the capacity.”
In his welcome address, the convener of the programme, Collective Action For Harmony and Development (COAHD), Professor Mohammed Yahaya Kuta expressed satisfaction at the global response at the participation especially on the valid propositions made by professor Osaghe on the kind of leaders we need in this country.
“The conversation is premixed on the fact that Nigeria is in need of help and we cannot leave it to government and individuals alone. So, whatever contributions we can make to actualise the dreams of our founding father of this great nation we must contribute.”
In his contribution, the Oluwo of Iwo kingdom, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi said the people who often call for the breakage of the country don’t know that our diversity is our beauty.
Oba Akanbi who attributed problems of the country to lack of love among its people advised the leaders to do what will make the nation be in the good record and history of Nigeria.
“There is no love among Nigerians, this has been the problem so far. killings, kidnapping, and other dastard acts have been the order of the day. People don’t want us to talk about our problems, all of these must stop if we really want peace, stability and development.”
According to him, Nigeria leaders need to learn from past mistakes and do what is good to fix and put the nation in good record.
He also suggested national conference to address the catalogue of problems facing the country so that the Nigeria can move forward.
Also in his speech, Oba (Professor)Adeyemi Abdukadir Obalanlege the Olota of Ota Awori Kingdom said Nigeria need to develop and strengthen its public institutions in order to bring back the values of the people and the nation.
He therefore commended the convener of the programme, describing the move as a welcome development.
Other discussants including a Journalist, Comrade Rotimi Agboluaje called for objectivity in the scheme of administration of the nation, adding that Nigeria still have the potentials to move to greater height.
Agboluaje urged media practitioners especially the new media otherwise known as social medial practitioners to be object in their reportage in order not mislead people of the nation in their stories.
