At Freedom Online 6th Annual Lecture, Fubara , Adams, Adewole, Daniel ,George, Others Challenge Electorate To Shun Money Politics, Poor Leadership

Dignitaries at the Freedom Online 6th annual lecture have challenged the electorate not to sit idly while politicians manipulate the system.

This was the general consensus yesterday at the lecture tagged; ” Nigeria’s Socio-Political Challenges: Whose Fault, Leader or The Led?”

The Sheraton Hotel, venue of the lecture, was full to the brim as speakers took turn to dissect the problem.

The guest speaker, Governor Siminalaye Fubara, said all hands must be on the deck, and more importantly, the people can not afford to be docile in the matter, affecting their lives.

Fubara, who was represented by a former deputy governor in Rivers state, Dr. Engr Tele Ikuru said the onus is on the people to claim what rightly belong to them or being shortchanged.

He listed voter apathy, partisan politics, limited space of civic engagement amongst others as the bane of our constitutional democracy.

To him, the leaders are the microcosm of the larger society, so if the people are docile and fail to hold leaders accountable, they will not get the desired dividends of democracy.

“Also, the insurgents in the North-East, rigging and cultism which has become rampant, especially in the Niger Delta politics will not suddenly disappear unless people are ready to take their destiny in their hands.

“Leaders in Nigeria includeelected officials such as the President, Governors, Legislators, and other political appointees whohave the mandate to serve the public and implement policies for national progress. Importantly,leaders are selected from among the led and thus are a microcosm of the society. This means thatthe values, attitudes, and behaviors of the general populace are often reflected in the leadershipthey produce.

“The led, on the other hand, refers to the general populace—the citizens who entrust their leaderswith authority through elections. They include voters, taxpayers, and all Nigerians who play a role inshaping governance through their participation in democratic processes.

“The led have the power toinfluence leadership by making informed choices and holding leaders accountable for theiractions.

“The debate over whether Nigeria’s socio-political challenges stem from the leaders or the led iscomplex. In reality, both share responsibility. Leaders must be accountable and work for the people, leaders must implement patriotic policies, strengthen institutions, while citizens must actively participate in governance, they must become more politically conscious, demandaccountability, and vote based on competence rather than sentiment..

“In Rivers State and acrossNigeria, we must break the cycle of poor leadership and passive followership by fostering a cultureof civic engagement and ethical governance.The future of Nigeria depends on us. The question is: Are we ready to take responsibility?

“Foreigners will not fix Nigeria for us. Until Nigerians take full ownership of the country’s problemsand solutions, the cycle of poor governance and underdevelopment will persist. The choice is ours:to act decisively and change Nigeria’s trajectory or remain in a state of stagnation, blaming oneanother while the nation deteriorates.”

Setting the tone of discussion earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Freedom Online, Mr Gabriel Akinadewo, wondered a system that was running smoothly in the past has suddenly turned woked.

He said: “Today, we confront a fundamental question: What do Nigerians expect between now and the 2027 presidential election? This inquiry leads us to examine the relationship between citizens and their elected representatives, and the accountability that binds them.

“Twenty-six years into our democratic journey that began in 1999, we must candidly assess whether Nigerians are satisfied with the state of our nation. What must our leaders do to earn public trust? Equally important, what responsibility do citizens bear in ensuring accountable governance? And how do we distinguish between political maneuvering and substantive governance?

“The expectations of Nigerians are clear. We cannot continue repeating the same patterns while hoping for different outcomes. Our political and judicial systems require urgent reform. Why must straightforward cases, particularly those of political significance, become entangled in technical complexities and languish in our courts for months?

“Consider this instructive example from our Second Republic.

“In 1983, the old Ondo State witnessed a contest between Governor Michael Adekunle Ajasin and his deputy, Chief Victor Akinwole Omoboriowo. When the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) declared Omoboriowo the winner on August 13, 1983, civil unrest followed. Ajasin challenged this result through proper legal channels.

“Remarkably, the Electoral Tribunal delivered its verdict in Ajasin’s favour on September 10 — less than a month after the election.

“When Omoboriowo appealed, the Appellate Court in Benin dismissed his case just 17 days later, on September 27.

“The Supreme Court in Lagos affirmed Ajasin’s victory on October 15, and he was sworn in for his second term on October 18.

“The entire judicial process—from Tribunal to Supreme Court—concluded in just 35 days.”

Akinadewo asked; ” What has changed in our system today?”

To Prof Aknyemi Onigbinde, transactional politics is the bane of our constitutional democracy.

He likened it to when the cliche, “dibo ko sebe ” which literally means vote and cook a pot of soup was introduced into Ondo state politics, he said the state has never recovered from the effect of such transaction.

Onigbinde said those making huge payment to buy nomination forms and taking care of all manners of the needs of the people are merely investing, adding that such would not translate to any meaningful development thereafter.

The chairman of the occasion and former Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George said the problems of Nigeria did not start today.

He recalled the 1962 crisis in the western region between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Ladoke Akintola of the Action Group which led to serious implications on the Polity.

The Atona Oodua however warned the present actors on the political scene to thread softly in order to avoid the pitfalls of the past.

To the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, ” our problems are with us because we are in love with it.”

Adebayo deplored the poor leadership at the centre which has failed to harness the abundance of potential in human and mineral resources for the greater good of the majority.

Adebayo hinged our coming out of the present economic doldrums to the proper definition of who we are, Caring for the poor and also strengthen the constitution by making it work instead of observing it in breach as panacea to good governance.

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland was unsparing of the alleged ignoble role played by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

Adams said Prof Yakubu has outstayed his usefulness, adding that nothing good can come from him.

He, however, decried money politics which he also identified as a factor.

Aare Onakakanfo however said restructuring will help resolve most of the gaps in our polity.

Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade retd however differed in his own submission.

According to him, everything rises and falls with leadership.

Recounting his experience in Bayelsa State where he once presided as a Governor, Olubolade said a good leader will Shun corruption and also cater for the people.

The former police affairs minister narrated how he was hosted at the same stadium he built while in Bayelsa 26 years ago for his 70th birthday last year as a reciprocity for his modest achievement there.

Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel also agreed with Olubolade that majority of the problems are hinged on poor leadership, though he agrees that the led cannot be totally insulated.

Daniel said people should read wide and gain knowledge, adding that poor education was responsible why some people will never argue from the point of knowledge.

Explaining further, Daniel said his guiding principle as governor of the Gateway State was hinged on two basically; “Is it in the interest of the majority and will I be able to stand tall in front of everyone that yes, I did it.”

Other dignitaries at the lecture include, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Chief Mrs Kofoworola Bucknor- Akerele, former African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, former Commissioners in Rivers State, Ibim Semanatari and Autin Tam George, Akinrogun Tunde Odanye, national vice chairman, south West, SDP, Mr Alani Silas amongst others.