Nobel Laureate tasks Nigerians on mutual, sustained dialogue for better nation

Nobel laureate and Former President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta has charged Nigerians on significance of sustained dialogue for mutual, and progressive compromises in the interest of the nation.

Ramos-Horta said, while addressing participants at the virtual public presentation of a book authored by former United Nations official and Head of Chrisland University Departments of Political Science and International Relations, Professor Babafemi Badejo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West Nigeria.

“Sustained dialogue with all her ethnic nationals would allow Nigeria attain national cohesion and social integration, which are essential for political stability and national development.”

The Nobel laureate noted that only such dialogue can usher in good governance in Nigeria.

Ramos-Horta emphasized that Nigeria possessed all it takes to achieve significance progress and development.

The former president of the Asian country, who is also a Nobel Laureate in Peace and Conflict Management, spoke at a public book presentation titled: “Nigerians’ Views On National Turmoil: A Situational Quadruple Nexus Analysis.”

Discussing some excerpts in the book titled Nigerians Views on National Peace, Progress and Development, Ramos-Horta said that, the book aptly pointed out how Nigeria could maximize her significant progress in selected economic sectors like creative and tech industries to build on some major wins.

“Nigerian government and the people are a leading bunch on the African continent and they possess all it takes to achieve significance progress and development.

According to the Nobel Laureate, “Nigeria must continue to ask questions on what ideas and solutions could be pursued for governance to serve its essence.”

Other discussants were unanimous in their submission on corruption as a bane on national development, noting that every nation is faced with challenges in the processes of nation building and development.

The author of the book, retired UN official, Professor Badejo stressed that Nigerians needs to strive towards the attainment of utmost freedom, an utopian but pursuable state best described as “Paradise on Earth” characterized by multiple freedoms from threats to quality of life and freedom to access opportunities that make a good life.

Nigeria to include leadership deficits, corruption, external dynamics, institutions as well as resources, which he said had since independence, culminated in lack of the needed peace and insecurity.