…Says Africa Lacks Leaders With Character
…Fight Against Corruption In Nigeria Calls For Integrity,Wise Approach
Former President of Ghana, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings, has stated that the ethnic and tribal agitations currently going in the country was not good for the country, warning Nigerians to put a stop to it.
Rawlings, who stated that he was not pleased with the ugly development, said that ethnic and tribal agitations appear to have taken a dangerous dimension, adding that such disagreements must stop.
The former President spoke at 12th Annual Lecture organised by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA), Ekiti State branch at the Conference Hall of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State yesterday.
He urged Nigerians to stop the ethnic war and help each other so as to co-exist peacefully in harmony.
The former President advised Nigerians to endeavour to get leaders with integrity and the right people, who can perform the much desired miracle, adding that Nigeria can sustain good leadership if they continue to use their tongues and votes rightly.
Speaking further, Rawlings declared that one of the challenges Africa is that the continent lacks leaders with character.
“By character, I mean distinctive qualities that overcome the challenges we have as constituencies and organisations. Let’s learn to be gracious. I am sad over the mean behavior of my fellow black man. African countries are plagued with several challenges such as agriculture, deforestation, bad economy, governance, education among others,”he said.
Speaking further, the Special Guest of Honour stated that he was worried by the curent rating of Nigeria and Ghana in terms of high rate of corruption by Transparency International (TI).
According to him, “Transparency International shows that countries in the South South region of Africa failed to address corruption and that Ghana and Nigeria rate high in corruption indices. However, some leaders have the will but not the character to fight corruption. The fight against corruption in Nigeria calls for integrity and wise approach so that it will not conflict with the lives of the people”.
He said that when Nigeria fights corruption rightly, it would not only do well for Nigeria but Africa and the world generally.
This is as he maintained that Nigeria commands about 75 per cent of the African population.
In nhis words, “Nigeria has the pride and integrity. Most African countries cannot meddle with you people.”
In his lecture, Dr. Makanjuola Owolabi stated that Nigeria’s past till now can best be summarised as one of bad leadership with mediocrity, the exact opposite of what she needs urgently for her progress and development.
Owolabi, who is also the Guest Lecturer at the event with the theme, “Leadership with Character” recommended that active participation in Nigerian politics especially at the grass root levels by all those who really graduated from Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics.
According to him, “We must also change our attitude to politics and governance of winner takes it all, of revenge, vendetta, vengeance, exclusion, extreme partisanship, wickedness and sadism which have been excluding close to 80 per cent of Nigerians in government activities and expenditures at all levels”.
He continued, “Instead we need urgently a political class in greater numbers of good leaders with the right characters and attitudes who are ready to serve and work passionately for peace, progress and prosperity of Nigeria”.
According to Owolabi ther are character traits or attitudes that are responsible for all failures, accidents and disasters in any area of human endeavors.
He listed the traits to include:complacency, anti-authority, invulnerability, “peculiar Ignorance, Culture and Tradition”, impulsiveness, resignation and macho attitude or machoism”.
The event was attended by members of UIAA, Ekiti branch including: the National President, UIAA, Kemi Emina, Chairman UIAA; Bishop , Ekiti Diocese, Anglican Communion, The Rt. Rev Christopher Omotunde; Provost College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Prof Mojisola Oyarekua; Ekiti Branch Chairman, Dr. Adeniyi Adedoyin and other alumnus and alumnae.
