By Praise Chinecherem
Former World Bank Managing Director (Africa), Dr Oby Ezekwesili has advised President Bola Tinubu to adopt a more citizen-oriented style of governance for the economic development and prosperity of Nigeria.
She asked the President to give the masses who constitute larger population of the society central position in his economic policies.
Ezekwesili spoke at the ASUU/NAU Secretariat of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State at the 5th International Hybrid Conference of the Unizik Business School (UBS), themed “Political Transition and Economic Development: The African Experience.”
She regretted that Africa’s pattern of political transition had not guaranteed true democracy, describing real democracy as one that generates positive socioeconomic development.
Describing change of mindset as critical to the development of Nigeria, Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, called on Buhari to lead by example by ensuring that only citizen-centered policies were enthroned in the country.
“Nigeria political system has become a system where transition is no longer people but court driven and monopolized such that the people’s wishes do not count anymore but the wish of the political class.
“Government policies have over the years contributed to the growing rate of suffering, poverty and economic hardship on Nigerians who have become helpless in their own land.
“Federal government must enthrone policies that will alleviate the sufferings of poor Nigerians who have been at the receiving end of bad governance and policies which have thrown them into poverty and economic hardship.
Governor of Abia State, Sam Oti who chaired the occasion said it was important for political leaders to be patriotism enough to make selfless policies capable of promoting socioeconomic development of the country.
Oti, represented by former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, Prof. Sam Omenyi described the theme as apt which would assist stakeholders appreciate place of transitions in nation’s socio-economic development.
Keynote speaker, Prof Obiora Okonkwo identified lack of will to deliver selfless service as major problem confronting Nigeria.
Okonkwo represented by Prof Charles Obiora lamented the bastardization of Nigerian political system, saying corruption had become the system itself.
“Nigeria has not lacked good followers but leaders who are devoted to the progress of the country. The current crop of leaders in the country are after self-enrichment instead of looking out for what will enrich the citizens and the lager society,” he said.
Unizik Vice Chancellor, Prof Charles Esimone noted that many African states were still embarrassingly bugged down by underdevelopment, going by the Human development indices of the United Nations despite being blessed with huge resources.
Esimone, represented by immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof Frederik Odibo, regretted that Nigeria, despite being a leading exporter of crude oil is still unable to refine its oil for domestic petroleum product needs.
“In the same way, most of Africa’s natural resources are exported as primary produce without any value-addition only to turn around to import finished goods from the same resources,” he said.
Former President of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and Emeritus Professor of Accountancy, Benjamin Chuka Osisioma, said the current generation has failed Nigerians. “We inherited a great Nigeria. We are not handing over any positive heritage to the young ones. Nigeria has been run down and we cannot pass the bug.”
Continuing, Prof Osisioma who commended the conference topic for addressing the issues of the present time, emphasized that a change of mindset is critical to the development of Nigeria. He also urged Nigerian leaders to be development-oriented in their thinking to make the impact Nigerias especially the younger generation yearn for.
Former National Vice-President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Charles Odunukwe said the first policy that should be given to Nigerians should be a steady power supply which he said would encourage industrialisation and local manufacturing. He also urged that the federal government should ensure the building of infrastructures like road networks, and industrial hubs to speed up the industrialisation of the country.
Chairman and founder of the Chicason Group of companies, Alexander Chika Okafor, emphasized that Africa remains the only continent where people are desperate to migrate from their God-given land.
He said the theme is a wake-up call for leaders to right the wrong, adding that a timely address of the issue would end the export of Nigerian labour to other countries.
Earlier, Director of Unizik Business School, UBS, Prof. Emma Okoye, said the event was held to reflect on issues that proved to be cog on the wheels of societal development. He also said the target was to prevent the youths from making similar mistakes that their fathers made in their lifetime.
In their contributions, Chairman Nigeria Institutute of Management, Ven Anayo Nkamnebe and Deputy Director, UBS, Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe said the conference aimed to gather scholars, practitioners policymakers to deliberate on issues that would contribute to the narratives that would create better governance, good society as well as improve the living standard of the people.
