The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Udom Emmanuel has urged electorates to elect good leaders in 2023 with the capabilities to tackle Nigeria’s challenges.
Governor Emmanuel gave the charge while declaring open a one-day conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria.
Surmountable challenges
Emmanuel asserted that with the election of good leaders the problems facing the country would be surmounted and commended the former deputy governors for selecting the theme “National Building in Challenges Times”.
According to him, “Issues confronting Nigeria is very surmountable; all we need is leadership structure. I still believe the solution to our challenges is on those that we appoint to lead us. Certainly, there are basic things we must get right, the basic structure we must bring down for us to move ahead and for us to move as a peace.”
Pointing out that the challenges were not bounded to Nigeria, the governor stated, “it is really challenging that the Great Britain is affected. Honestly we are facing a major challenge in our nation and all over the world.
“You can see countries are trying to adjust and readjust. How could you wake up one morning and hear a whole state is under water?” he queried.
He urged the other former deputy governors yet to join the forum to build a better Nigeria, stressing that nobody is the custodian of Knowledge.
Maintain unity
The Chairman of the conference and former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asserted that Nigeria would remain united irrespective of the myriads of challenges bedeviling the nation.
Agabi, who commended the former deputy governors for taking positive steps to address the challenges in Nigeria, said “the consolation to challenges in Nigeria is that good men and women like the former deputy governors have never stopped endeavouring to find solutions to the problems of our country.”
The former Minister of Justice urged Nigerians to be hopeful and remain united as part of effort to foster all round growth.
National stakeholders
In a keynote, Professor Audu Gambo of the Karl Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State in north central Nigeria, said that the way forward is for Nigerians to promote good governance, where citizens were treated as equal and equitable stakeholders in the national project.
Gambo attributed the lack of good leadership to drive national growth and development to the lack of hope and trust in the quality of Nigeria’s electoral process.
During a presentation on the topic “Fast Tracking Socio-economic Development in Nigeria: Are there Proactive Measures?”, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Professor Akpan Ekpo said that the poor performance of the country’s economy has resulted in a lack of trust and confidence on the government.
Ekpo explained that the citizens’ loss of trust and confidence on the government breeds disunity, tribal and ethnicism, which is inimical to national development.
The one-day conference was rounded off with the inauguration of a new executive led by the National President, Mr. Chris Akumas, the former deputy governor of Abia State in south-east Nigeria.
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