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Tag: leaders’

  • Pray for leaders, Ademowo urges at Easter

    Nigerians have been urged to intercede for their political leaders always to overcome the challenges confronting the country.

    In his message during the Good Friday Service in Lagos, Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, The Most Rev’d Dr. E. Adebola Ademowo, also implored Christians to seize the occasion of the season to reconcile with and move closer to God.

    Ademowo, who expressed optimism in the future of the country, urged Christians to remain committed, prayerful and focused.

    “With the present situation of the country, especially socio economic challenges, we can only get it right through consistent prayers for our leaders and the country at large.

    “I also want to beg us all to emulate the meekness and spirit of forgiveness exhibited by Jesus Christ even unto the point of death,” he said.

    He added Christians should be prepared to face persecution and should not give up but continue to speak with one voice in the face of challenges.

     

  • Leaders, values and expectations

    The  saying that bad news travel  fast has become an understatement in  this age of viral social  media  and fake news.  It  is   a  world where   hacking has become a  real and potent cyber  weapon  that  destroys democracies  and even  the companies  that  have  made  billions from the internet   through  mass  consumer  participation  and sheer  volume. This   has made data  mining a huge  wealth  spinning proposition  for internet  companies like  Face  Book  which  for   now  is fighting for its corporate  life because information  and data  have  become weaponised  and have been  pilfered  cheekily  under  its watch.  Such  data  is now said to have been  used  to get the President of the US  elected  and the world  is reeling from that development   which    both  British  PM Theresa May  and defeated US presidential  candidate Hillary   Clinton  had  earlier   warned  the world  about  but were ignored at the time.

    In  spite  of this development  however  bad  news will  still  remain  bad news and  it is in that light that I look  at  today’s topic. It  is my  contention here that in an  age of  fake news and cyber  hacking, leaders especially  of democracies  must be on their  toes  in living up to the expectations of  those who  elected them  as well as those  such  leaders lead  in any  aspect  of leadership  especially  the political and religious. To  illustrate  my views  today  I  will  look perfunctorily  at  events in Nigeria, Poland, China, and  the US  and the role of some political  and   religious   leaders  in those nations and draw  conclusions  and lessons  from  the events I  will  highlight.

    On  Nigeria   I  wish  to  discuss  Nigerian  issues  on a comparative  basis with  Poland  not because  the Eagles  are playing with Poland in   a  friendly  soccer match this weekend  but because  of the issues  of patriotism,  and   national pride inherent  in the events   I  want   to discuss about  the two  nations. All   the events  look  like bad  news  but in the light  of expectations of leadership involved in them one  can still  see that all  hope for improvement  is not lost . In  Nigeria the news  that over  a hundred  of  the Nigerian  girls  seized  by Boko  Haram  had  been  returned  by their abductors  is good  news  but the abduction  and the   negligence   involved  in their being taken  and returned  by their captors is  dangerously  bad  news indeed. Where  is the power  and authority of the sovereign state, in the hands of the government  of the day, in all  these?  It  obviously  took  a   nap  while Nigerian  girls  were  taken  away by insurgents  that were  said to have been  defeated   but  who  resurrected  to show  their staying power  with  disdain  and impunity. As if to say  they can always  abduct  and return  Nigerian  citizens in their nation and there is nothing the Nigerian  government can  do  about it.  That  is bad news indeed  and certainly  worse  than the cyber  hacking   blamed on  Russia  and threatening western  democracies as  we  know  them  today. It  is poor  consolation  to assert  that the  DSS  negotiated  their return  and that  they will  be received in Abuja  by the president.  This  is because   the   DSS  and  government should  have  prevented  the abduction  in the first  instance  and giving  them  audience  in  Abuja is like giving  an  award  to   Boko  Haram for its   invincibility,  terrorist insolence  and murderous intents  and actions that have killed many  Nigerian with impunity in recent  times.  This  is  indeed  a very  sad  development  in our  fight against  Boko  Haram  insurgency.

    Similarly, a priest  in  Poland   recently  said  he hoped the present  Catholic  Pope  should  just  die  and go and meet  his father in heaven  because  he  asked Christians in Europe  to  accept  Muslim  migrants. The  priest  has been  admonished by  his superiors  in the Catholic  hierarchy  but  what  he has said seem  to  be the policy  of the government  of  Poland.  This is because  Poland, Hungary, Czech  and Slovak  Republics, all  members of the EU  have refused  to take their quota  of  migrants allotted  them   by the EU. Even  in the face  of threats  by the German Chancellor Angela  Merkel  that their structural  funds  for development from  the EU  will  depend on their readiness  to  accommodate migrants,  these four elected  governments who  have branded  themselves  as’ illiberal  democracies ‘ have refused to take in  Muslim  migrants  claiming  they will  undermine  their  security  and that  of  Europe at large.

    I  want  to compare  the frustration or  fallen  expectation of the Polish  priest with  the leadership  of the  Catholic  Pontiff   with  a worrying development  in the Anglican  Communion in Nigeria with  regard  to the election of a new Bishop of  Lagos whose   seat  is in the illustrious  Cathedral  on the Marina in  Lagos. Some  key  members of the Cathedral  had made  allegations   of bribery  in the election  of the new  Bishop    who  I understand  is a committed   prelate  in his own  right   and have  accused the outgoing Bishop   who  also is an Archbishop of railroading his succession   and taking the diocese  through  unnecessary  and extravagant  farewell  benefits and send  off  events. What  bothered  me however in a letter sent  to me on Whats App  was  the reply  to the accusations   of abuse  of office  and power  against  the outgoing prelate. The  man  of God  retorted  with  flourish    that  even  if  he was  being given  a 200m naira farewell  handshake  it  was not peculiar  to  him  because two  former  prelates  of his calibre  had  taken  50m naira  more  before  him.  In  addition  he wrote  that  the Chancellor  inspired  the benevolence  and there  was  nothing to it as  far  as he was concerned.  This was his reply on the social  media to a query  from the  spiritual  leader of the Anglican  Communion in  Nigeria.

    This  reply  in circulation in the social  media reminded  me of the arrogant  but unconvincing answer of former French  President Valery Giscard  d ‘Estang  to allegations that  he received  gifts from  former    blood   thirsty   dictator  Jean Bedel Bokassa of the Central African  Republic. Giscard    imperiously  replied  then  – ‘I issue  a categorical  denial  and a contemptuous one ‘.  

    But no one  believed him. Similarly  the prelate  on the Marina has a credibility problem  on his response.  This is not difficult  to see, given  the fact that  he did  not  accept   or see  that 200m  naira  is a lot  of money  to give  to  an outgoing priest  no  matter  his rank  or  the investments he made  for the progress  of the diocese  during his tenure. Indeed  to  see a   religious  legacy strictly  in terms of material  achievements  is a sign  of potent ecclesiastical   impoverishment and  lack  of  spiritual  commitment  and  leadership . Definitely  a 200m  naira  mansion  on earth   makes  it  extremely  difficult   for  a rich  man  to  seek  heaven  in   any hurry. Just  as the bible says it is easy   for  a camel  to pass through  the eye  of   a needle   than    for  a poor  man  to enter  the kingdom  of heaven. Surely  in this instance the hood  has not made  the monk   and the  probleam of  the laity  in the Cathedral  on  the Marina  is  clearly  understandable  in terms of  concern  over   failure  of leadership  by example, this time on the   spiritual   than the material  plain.

    Finally  let  me take both  the US  and  China  together  on  leadership,  values  and expectations  on  drugs  and intellectual  property  which  were  the issues  very  much  in the public  domain  this week.  On  drugs,  US  President Donald  Trump  has advocated  the death  penalty  and he  really  meant it  and I give  him  kudos for  that  even  though  he has gone on to link that  with his anti  migration policy   by stressing that drug  pushers come from the nations he wants their  citizens  kept  out of the US and build border  walls  against.  But   he is   behind China  in his death penalty stance  because China  has long ago prescribed the death penalty  for  corruption.  But    in  announcing a huge  tariff  against  Chinese  goods  on intellectual  property I  commend  the US president   because  China is the piracy  capital of the world  and there is no book, good or service that the  Chinese  cannot copy  and sell  globally   with   impunity   in  violation of international law.  China  may  bristle or   even  threaten  retaliation. That is the truth  and the Chinese    need   to  put  their  house in order  and respect copy rights and other intellectual  property  requirements  to  make the world  a civilized place  for all  of us to live in. Again   Long  live the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • ‘Youths, leaders need re-orientation’

    A Youth advocacy group, All Campus Show, has called for re-orientation among youths and politicians for the realisation of the nation’s development.

    The group spoke at the “Nigeria Must Change” rally at the Three-Man Statue Garden in Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.

    The group’s President, Busuyi Ojo, said youths must go beyond the penchant for complaints and start making the change they desire by interacting positively with their immediate environment.

    The youth leader said the ruling class should correct persistent corruption and insensitivity towards youths and the nation’s future.

    He said: “This is not meant to go against the government but to re-orientate the leadership of this country and the teeming but slumbering youths. Competitions on the clothes we wear or the cars we drive will get us nowhere.

    “As a matter of fact, such competition is the cause of nefarious acts among Nigerian youths. We should rather redirect our energy. Youths must begin to invest our time and energy in our future. We must show that we are ready to take the mantle of leadership.”

     

     

     

  • Nigerians deserve the truth from leaders

    Sir: As the nation is gradually gravitating towards falsehood and deceit, truth and sincerity are becoming rare and where they are found, are often mutilated. This ugly trend has unfortunately been extolled to an official state policy by those saddled with the day to day running of government. Half-truth, denials of clear facts, economy of truth or outright falsehood have not been in short supply in our recent political experience. The nation’s successive leaderships have continued to employ this style not minding the fact that the current advancement in information technology which makes the entire world a global village also makes it difficult to completely conceal information especially those already in the public domain.

    It has been many years since former President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the popular Freedom of Information Bill (FIB) and citizens are still being denied access to certain information, even though such may not pose any security threat. Just for some unexplained political considerations, certain information are either denied or doctored in a way that unduly tends to praise the government or presents our leaders as infallible. For God sake, no mortal is infallible, where a genuine mistake has been made, it is  only natural and even more dignifying to admit a sincere fault than to try to defend it because in an attempt to defend such, more lies may have to be told.

    However some have argued that the oath of secrecy in the civil service where classified information is not supposed to be divulged to the public is what accounts for this official hypocrisy. One wonders why deliberate distortion or denial of the truth amounts to secrecy. A classified information is such that is not known already to the public and for security or other administrative reasons are kept away from the public consumption. While one can explain the rationale behind such policy, it makes no sense trying to suppress the truth by refusing to admit it. A recent example is the insistence by government that Boko Haram has been decimated and enervated such that it can no longer carry out any military style attack only for the nation to be jolted by the news of some brutal attack on military barracks in Borno where some soldiers lost their lives and weapons carted away. Similarly, Dapchia’s episode which reenacted the 2014 Chibok girls’ abduction at the time when the fight against insurgency was not given the impetus it is supposedly given now, is quite embarrassing. In all these, can citizens go to sleep with their eyes closed each time government gives assurances of their safety? Can they swallow hook line and sinker information coming from government?

    The NNPC’s denial of the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during the Yule tide period and its consequent blame on oil marketers of hoarding the products even when inadequate supply of the product was a known fact only shows insincerity of government. Most people make their plans based on official information from government, so when it is false, the general public becomes victims of official hypocrisy. Certainly, there is absolutely no need trying to be politically correct just to please one’s pay masters as the embarrassment that comes when the truth finally comes out will erode all the temporary gains such lies had garnered.

    Managers of government’s information should realize that when the public is denied of information, they peddle rumours and when the masses are not properly informed they become deformed. This is what has unfortunately given rise to fake news which is now becoming pervasive in the land.

    It is also necessary to note that when people start telling themselves the truth, then their problems are half-solved. Such people would certainly be a blessing to a country such as ours where deceit, insincerity, distrust and hypocrisy have been the bane of her development.

     

    • Itaobong Offiong Etim, Calabar.

  • Visionary and visionless leaders

    SIR: Hardly do you see a government in Nigeria (state and federal) that pursues policies of previous administration. Save for perhaps Lagos where the politicians seem to have got leadership model right. Others lag behind; everything about the old order must be bad.  And destruction of the old order must be carried out with gung-ho spirit. They are always united in confusion.

    Not so elsewhere. Winston Churchill — was not future blind when in 1943, he laid the foundation for the establishment of the universities of Ibadan (Nigeria), Legon (Ghana) and— Makerere (Uganda). How could he have known when he did that he would be upstaged as prime minister by Clement Attlee of the Labour Party in the general elections of 1945?

    * Attlee was not future blind— regardless of the fact that the vision was Churchill’s —  went ahead with the establishment of the University of Ibadan in 1948 — Legon and Makarere. Might that have happened in Nigeria?

    The National Open University in the United Kingdom was promoted by Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s Labour Party — in government from 1964 to 1970. It was a policy the conservative party loved to deride as no good.

    When Edward Ted Heath (Conservative) — defeated Harold Wilson (Labour) and — became prime minister, his education secretary Margaret Thatcher against all odds, despite being harried by her party leaders, volte-faced and began to proselytize on the importance of Open University. She not only campaigned for its entrenchment but lobbied the party hierarchy for it to be funded. No need telling. The Open University became a success story but credit due Thatcher was given to Wilson.

    Harry Truman lacked charisma but today is one of the greatest presidents ever to lead the United States. He carried FDR policies to the letter after the latter’s death; The New Deal as well as building Europe with the Marshall Plan.

    * It’s important for youngsters to see politics as a noble profession — to see themselves as equal members of society and — that democratic contest is a sport, an avenue for healthy jousts necessary for developmental growth. After all— genuine statesmen and women are not bigots and development cannot be brought about by only one political party.

     

    • Simon Abah,

    Abuja.

  • When leaders play the ostrich

    When leaders play the ostrich

    The social media platform is the place to visit when you want a good laughter or wish to engage in deep reflection about our nation’s diversity. Let me share with you dear readers, the following two postings by unknown authors which I stumbled upon during my visit last week.  From its focus, it was however apparent the first posting was by a hard core President Buhari supporter.  It says: “I campaigned for change, I voted for change. I believe in change”. It went on to ask how PDP that is gearing up to take over from Buhari in 2019 expects Buhari to deliver in one year what it failed to do in 16 years. Concluding, it reminded Wike and Fayose PDP in case they have forgotten, that PDP met a bag of rice at N2, 500 in 1999 but left it at N11, 000 in 2015, exchange rate at N20 to a dollar but left it at N220, pump price of petrol at N11 but left it at N87, a tin of milk at N15 but left it at N100 and life expectancy of 59 years reduced to 42 by 2015.

    And finally, as a parting shot, it reminded PDP it inherited only OPC in 1999 but foisted on the nation Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, Niger Delta militants, the Avengers, MASSOB and IPOB by 2015 when its planned 60 years of uninterrupted reign was abridged by ‘Sai Buhari.’

    The second posting was that of a frustrated Nigerian who compared our nation to a vehicle undergoing a repair in a mechanic workshop. The mechanic discovered, after fixing the brain box, that someone had removed the tyres, and when that was done discovered the battery was gone and then the kick starter. And finally when he thought he was ready to drive off at night fall as it started to rain, he discovered the headlamps and wipers were gone. Chief Obafemi Awolowo who claimed to have taken his time to study Nigerian problems and proffered  solutions, using different imagery seem to have painted the same scenario a long while ago using the imagery of a cow held by some people while it was repeatedly milked by a few powerful individuals.

    It suddenly occurred to me that except our hypocritical leaders and those benefiting from our current anarchy, it is not difficult for ordinary Nigerians and those leaders who genuinely care about our country to clearly articulate our crisis of nation building.

    What is apparent from the second posting is that those who are pillaging our nation have no faith in Nigeria as a corporate entity. For leaders who genuinely believe in nation-building therefore, their task is finding out why people don’t have faith in their country. Strategic studies have clearly shown that lack of faith in one country arises from social discontent, marginalisation, injustice and denial of quest for self-actualisation, all of which find expression in social strife, sabotage of economic activities, rebellion, militancy and sometimes civil war. While we have experienced all these manifestations since the end of the civil war, we have done everything but address the causes of these malcontents.

    Instead of learning how other multi-ethnic societies face their own demons, our successive leaders from Gowon through Obasanjo, Babangida, Jonathan and Buhari have continued to play the ostrich while self-serving members of the governing elite demonstrate their lack of faith in the country by stealing the country blind. The state without an hegemonic power, pummelled from all sides by disgruntled restive members of the federating groups, is thus reduced to an orphan repeatedly raped and pillaged by privileged member of the governing elite while our leaders issue empty declaration about indivisibility of what for all intent and purposes, is a carcass of a once vibrant Nigeria that today needs restructuring along the lines of sustainable development.

    Let us trace our way back to Gowon after the civil war. It is on record that 11 of Gowon’s 12 military administrators who prevented him from keeping faith with his transition programme were found by judicial commission of inquiry to be men with feet of clay. Some of his civilian commissioners  including Pa Edwin Clark who back then joined others to proclaim Gowon the messiah just as he did in 2015 40 years later as President Jonathan’s adopted father, were found to have benefitted from the 1972 indigenisation exercise.

    Fast forward to Babangida regime in 1985. While he was busy turning the nation to net importer of labour of other societies by ceding the commanding heights of the economy to mostly dubious and ill-equipped members of the governing elite that ran the economy aground through asset stripping, he was getting award after award from intellectuals who christened him “Prince of the lower Niger’’ and, from the National Economic Society of Nigeria (NES) who bestowed on him a fellowship, their highest honour for his handling of the economy.

    Precisely because Obasanjo who is violently opposed to restructuring also suffers from messianic complex, he was an easy prey to those who have lost faith in Nigeria. Those who conferred on him the titles of “maker of modern Nigeria and father of the nation” went on to confiscate our budding industries through ill-implemented privatization programme of our common patrimony through self-serving monetisation government policy. As if to further demonstrate their lack of faith in Nigeria, they derailed his power sector and railway modernization projects.

    President Jonathan who as a minority is a victim of injustice by the dominant groups had an opportunity to restructure the country but completely overwhelmed, he was to confess out of office that he was caged all through his presidency. The humongous amount stolen under his nose was a testimony that those who claimed he was the answer to the national question served none but themselves.

    Almost three years into the Buhari administration, his apparent lack of commitment to restructuring, the missteps of his kitchen cabinet members who seem to shield corrupt elements and have no inclination to pretend about their sectional agenda appears to have removed the myth of Buhari messianic assignment.

    The growing frustration of his supporters that fear he is squandering away the goodwill of Nigerians by his refusal to denounce some of the activities and pronouncement of some of his aides that tend to undermine his integrity was not helped by the visit of some APC governors to Aso rock seat of power to adopt him APC 2019 presidential candidate. This was on a day Benue was burying the remains of 73 of her indigenes allegedly killed by Fulani herdsmen.  It is equally no relief to Buhari supporters that a parallel  can easily be drawn between the action of these self-serving governors who have become liabilities to their states and the APC  and Daniel Kanu’s two million Youths Earnestly Ask For Abacha  Abuja march and the trading of untruth around the country by Ifeanyi Uba-led  Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) that claimed to have secured 18 million signatories of those who earnestly wanted Jonathan as PDP sole candidate for the 2015 election.

    The unfolding tragedy  is a clear evidence our ill- equipped past military leaders and their military baked ‘new-breed’ successors  cannot give what they don’t have.

  • Kumuyi charges leaders to focus on evangelism

    Kumuyi charges leaders to focus on evangelism

    The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has charged church leaders to remain focussed on the great commission and avoid all forms of distraction that lead the church to nowhere.

    Kumuyi said this at the just-concluded National Leadership Strategy Congress organised by the church at the Deeper Life Conference Centre, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

    The programme, which featured prayers, bible teachings, workshops and prophetic ministration, brought together thousands of workers and pastors of the church.

    He advised that the church must remain committed and obedient to the great commission of reaching the whole world for Christ as it remains the heartbeat of God for this time.

    He stated that some activities being put up by some churches today are mere distraction and a snare from the devil to distract them away from the things that have any eternal value.

    Kumuyi said that the gospel of Jesus Christ reached Africa because of the un-relentless efforts of the missionaries who against all odds sacrificed their lives, time, and skills to preach the gospel in Africa.

    “We cannot remain idle or indifference to the acts of wining souls for Christ. It is one thing that should matter to us as believers as the end of the world is near,” he said.

    He added that millions of souls are rushing towards a lost eternity. “Believers must, therefore, throw aside all flimsy excuses as there is no trouble too great, no humiliation too deep, no suffering too severe, no labour too hard, and no expense too much in saving souls. We must arise therefore, pray and do the work,” the cleric declared.

    Kumuyi asserted that opportunities for evangelism abound daily on the streets, hospitals, motor parks, bus stops, inside the bus or taxi, prisons, homes of neighbours, schools, markets, urging the soul-winner not to wait for a perfect opportunity as every situation is an opportunity.

  • Killings planned, say Benue leaders

    Killings planned, say Benue leaders

    Benue leaders yesterday described the New Year’s Day killings as a planned genocide.

    Three socio- cultural groups, Mdzough U Tiv, Idoma National Forum and Omi Ny’Igede,  told reporters at a joint news conference in Abuja that the government failed to prevent the killings of about 20 people.  .

    According to them, there was an alleged armed militia build-up and convergence at the Nigeria- Cameroon border and at the Agatu border with Nassarawa State to the Northwest of Benue State.

    The statement said: “We the people of Benue State here represented by the Mdzough U Tiv, Idoma National Forum and  Omi Ny’Igede ,the principal umbrella socio- cultural groups of the Tiv., Idoma and Igede nations wish to inform the world of the callous and barbaric unprovoked attack resulting into possible genocide and destruction of lives and properties of the Benue people by Fulani herdsmen which incidence commenced on the 1st January, 2018.

    “It was reliably gathered that the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore held clandestine meetings in Nigeria and abroad to visit mayhem and genocide on the people of Benue State.

    ”The plot was said to be multi- directional and aimed to simultaneously invade and and attack Benue from every angle so that there would be no escape for our defenseless people,” the Organisations said.

    They claimed that over two thousand men, women and children had died since the attacks began five years previously. “Over 500 people are still missing while over half a million people are displaced and the future of almost a million youths truncated.”

    They called on  the APC-led government and all political parties to stand against “the planned genocide” while expressing their disappointment in the President for his inaction

    “We the people of Benue wish to remind the President that we voted massively  for this government to protect us and provide conducive atmosphere for development but the reverse is now the case.

    “We also want to remind the President that he swore an oath to defend he citizens of Nigeria but had failed woefully in the discharge of this responsibility in Benue State. The blood of those killed is on the heads of those running the Federal Government,” they added.

    The Presidents of the three organisations: Chief Edward Ujege, Barr. Amali Adoya Amali and Choef Ode Enyi were present at the briefing.

  • Afreximbank names leaders in intra-African trade

    Afreximbank names leaders in intra-African trade

    Egypt could be a front runner in transforming intra-African trade and boosting innovation and industrialisation on the African continent, the Managing Director of the Intra-African Trade Initiative at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Kanayo Awani, has said

    Speaking during the opening of a one-day workshop on intra-African trade, organised by Afreximbank, in Cairo, she said despite current low trade figures, opportunities abounded and there were many areas in which Egypt could expand its trade with the rest of Africa.

    “With the new significant policy shift toward export promotion, especially within Africa, and capitalizing on regional trade agreements, like the upcoming Continental Free Trade Area, an improved and dedicated shipping line from Sokhna Port to Mombasa, quality and competitive Egyptian products and services, Egypt can transform its trade with Africa and become a major trade partner,” she stated.

    Egypt could expand its export trade in textiles, electricity, utilities and construction services, said Ms. Awani, who added that there were opportunities to boost pharmaceuticals exports to Nigeria, and furniture to Kenya, as well as to import beef from Sudan and fruits and vegetables from East Africa.

    The Managing Director said that Afreximbank had engaged with Egyptian businesses over the last year in order to address their trade finance needs and to identify the trade facilitation issues they faced as they tried to expand into existing African markets or to enter new ones.

    She explained that the Bank decided to organise the workshop in order to respond to some of the concerns that had been expressed by the businesses and to share some of the Bank’s interventions that responded directly to the issues raised.

  • Let’s learn from each other, Ajimobi tells African leaders

    Let’s learn from each other, Ajimobi tells African leaders

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged African leaders to learn from one another.

    The governor said this was the best and fastest way to achieve speedy and fast developmental goals for the continent.

    Ajimobi spoke at the weekend in Ibadan, the state capital, when he hosted a delegation from Accra, the capital of Ghana, who were in the state to seek information on the state’s environmental sanitation model with the intention of replicating same in Accra.

    The delegation was led by the Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Sowah.

    Ajimobi said: “The fastest way to development and making a change is by templating. There is need for us to learn from whoever has done something successfully and see how we can adopt same for even development across Africa, instead of reinventing the wheels. This is our faster way of developing a modern and developed nation among the comity of nations.”

    The governor said his administration, on assumption of office in 2011, prepared a template on its needs and priority.

    He said: “Before we assumed office, Ibadan was popularly known as one of the dirtiest (cities) in Nigeria and a home of brigandage. Our administration, before assumption of office, was prepared to reverse the trend.

    “Our first project when we came on board was to ensure peace as well as the security of lives and property, which we were able to do. In the area of infrastructure, we ensured that we formed a network of road by moving from the old to a modern system. We were able to dualise all entrance roads in major towns of the state. That effort was to make the environment comfortable and conducive for all.

    “There are many things we can share and learn from each other. Nigeria and Ghana have an extremely similar background. By now, what you want to learn from us would be faster and better in implementation. It will be very easy for you to implement and improve on it to suit your environment because our mistakes would be there for you also to learn from.”

    Sowah, who applauded Ajimobi’s giant strides in sanitation and beautification, noted that the governor had tremendously modernised the state into a haven for investors.

    The Ghanaian mayor said the delegation was in Ibadan to learn from the state government‘s experience and peruse the environmental sanitation methods evolved by the state government in line with the mandate of the government to make Accra the cleanest and neatest city in Africa.

    He said: “I am really happy with the significant changes we saw in Lagos and Ibadan. I am really impressed with all that you have achieved so far in Oyo State. Our President, on assumption of office, declared that he wanted Accra to be the cleanest city in Africa. This is why we in Accra have to move fast in making the declaration a reality.

    “Let me inform you that we got to know about the environmental sanitation programmes of your administration from a firm in our quest to making it a reality.”