From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has blamed the political class, particularly those who had occupied elective positions in the past, for the abject poverty being faced by the people they are supposed to better their lives.
The ex-military head of state also blamed the political leaders, including the incumbent public office occupants of not using the power given to them by the constitution to effect the needed change in their various localities.
Obasanjo, who spoke at the inauguration of “Olusegun Obasanjo Good Governance and Development Research Centre” in Abuja yesterday, said leadership is not a nomenclature or title, but a responsibility of being in front people to lead them to progress, prosperity and helping them to achieve their purposes or a set of objectives and targets, and not otherwise.
“Responsibility is the great mark of a leader as there should be no bulk passing; the leader takes and accepts responsibility for whatever mistakes and shortcomings of his followers,” he said.
He, thus, commended the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for establishing the research centre, and encouraged them to vigorously pursue the objectives of the centre, which includes, but not limited to, undertaking scientific research and studies on any aspect of governance, democracy, socio-economic development and political stability of the country.
He highlighted other objectives to include organising lectures, workshop, seminars and focused group discussions with various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, prosecution and judicial authorities.
He equally encouraged the centres, under the directorship of Prof. Abdullahi Shehu, to study the existing theories of leadership and possibly develop a unique model that would be debated globally.
Chairman of the occasion and former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama expressed optimism that the centre would provide a platform for researchers to uncover and proffer realistic solutions to economic, political and leadership challenges which he believed had held down Africa and its people, thereby, giving them low voice in the comity of nations.
“There is no doubt that Nigeria has all it takes to revolutionise the economic and political status of Africa, but that has not been realised because of some hindrances. The entire African continent looks up to Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt to lead the economic revolution in the continent, and, until Nigeria leads the way, others won’t follow,” he said.
He identified the wide gap between infrastructure provisions and population growth as one of the impediments to human capital development and appealed to African leaders to dedicate reasonable percent of their budgets to capital projects which would focus on critical infrastructures.
Meanwhile, NOUN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Adamu said the research centre was established to quench the taste of researchers who are apparently dissatisfied with the slow pace of economic, social and political development in Nigeria and Africa.
He hoped that the Centre would uncover new ways of doing things in Nigeria to achieve the much desired growth politically, economically and otherwise.
Both the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Maryam Muktar and several other guests admitted that there was need for Africa to lead the way in economic and political revolution in Africa, but must first strengthen its institutions and people.
They insisted that strong institutions are very important for national development and require strong persons to build and maintain.