Jega: Nigeria Becoming Failing State Due to Lack of Selfless and Focused Leadership
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has stated that Nigeria is becoming a failing state because of the failure of the current national leaders to replicate the selfless and focused leadership of the First Republic.
He spoke yesterday at the launching of the ‘Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative’ and the book: ‘Faces of Patriotism,’ in Abuja.
Jega, who delivered the keynote lecture, ‘Rise up Patriots, Take Pride in Our Nation’, however, warned the youth not to contemplate the Japa (migration) option, saying that many Nigerians in the Diaspora who left the country, later regretted such decision at old age.
This is just as the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, declared that the federal government plans to curb unnecessary protocols at official functions.
Jega noted that given the prevailing difficult circumstances, Nigerians are nostalgic and worried when they reflect on the quality of the leadership of the past and the present.
“Indeed, when we read the literature on democratic development in terms of states or countries being able to address the fundamental needs of its people, Nigeria, currently is being considered by some as a failed state.
“I don’t believe Nigeria is a failed state, but l think it’s a failing state. That’s why all patriots need to join hands to ensure that Nigeria does not become a failed state.
“We have to reverse this trend; we must keep hope alive; we must join hands and do what it takes to revitalise and reposition our political and governance processes so that Nigeria can become as glorious if not more glorious as it was in the past,” Jega said.
He noted that the prevailing situation had created apathy, inertia, and despondency among the citizenry.
Jega identified patriotism as the solution to the negative political atmosphere, warning that the failure of the citizens to vote and participate in the political processes will only create opportunities for reckless people to get into government.
He identified patriotism as a necessity that is desirable for national unity, progress, and development, saying it will be of benefit to the country.
Jega also urged genuine patriots to rise, take pride, reposition the country, and help restore hope among the citizenry who have lost hope in the country as well as engage the youth.
He charged young people not to go to Japa and leave the country, saying many people who migrated to other economies are thinking of coming back home after they attain 70 years because they realised that they could never and have never adapted to the countries where they moved to.
“And they want to come back, and again, they also see the social-cultural damage of what Japa has done to their cultural values and their children. And they want to come back home because they may be frustrated because they have been disconnected with their society and they end up as relatively very, very frustrated people,” he said.
He charged young people to stay and develop the country instead of migrating.
In his remarks, Issa-Onilu, who represented the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the federal government was in the process of cutting down protocols as part of efforts to make Nigeria a business-conscious country.
