Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George; Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, and Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, have stressed the need to douse economic tension in the country.
Speaking at the fifth yearly lecture of Freedom Online newspapers, held in Lagos, they noted that vision plays a crucial role in driving progress and achieving success.
George, specifically, said the country has had enough of rottenness in financial management, and it is time to put an end to economic inequality, injustice and unfairness in the distribution of resources and wealth.
He said a situation, where a sitting senator collects N23 million every month, a retired federal Permanent Secretary, N1 million per month, and a retired military General, N250,000 as pension is despicable, shambolic, nonsensical and outright systemic failure.
On his part, Uzodimma, who was the guest lecturer, said if President Bola Tinubu continues with his current demonstration of audacity and addresses lingering security challenges, Nigeria would be on its way out of underdevelopment.
The governor urged the National Assembly to come up with bills and motions that would complement the President’s courage and vision. According to him, expectations of good governance between 2023 and 2027 would be met, and Nigerians would have less poverty, insecurity and unemployment.
Uzodimma, however, noted that free and fair elections are work in progress, lamenting that of the 93.57 million registered voters in the just concluded general elections, only 24.9 million voted in presidential and National Assembly polls.
“This is just 26.7 per cent of the registered voters. Taken further, it means only about 25 million Nigerians, out of the latest estimated population of 221 million people, participated in the last elections.
“This implies that only 11.3 per cent participated. These statistics are important for us to appreciate, later, why the Nigerian situation is peculiar and, sadly, unable to serve as the model of democracy we passionately crave for,” he said.
Diri appealed to political actors to empower voices of the younger generation in the build up to elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
He said: “They should not be pawns to be used in political games. Rather, they are the very lifeblood of our future. They merit appreciation, respect, and an active role in shaping the trajectory of our democracy. Also, they are not to be used as drug-induced thugs for mayhem, electoral violence, and thuggery.”
He added: “It is my candid consideration that our lack of sustained progress as a country is due to the absence of a corporate vision for Nigeria. Vision plays a crucial role in driving progress and achieving success in various aspects of life, whether personal, professional or societal.”
