I am Uncomfortable with Nigeria’s politics – Fayemi
Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, on Saturday said he is not comfortable with the method of politics in Nigeria.
Fayemi said this at a birthday symposium in honour of Mr Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Development, in Abuja.
The governor said by now, Nigeria should have outgrown bigotry, tribalism and ethno religious biases.
He noted that now is the time to rekindle the candle of a new Nigeria as the 2023 general elections draws near.
According to him, the coming transition provides another opportunity for Nigerians to take a new day at making a new Nigeria of their dream.
He said that Nigerian citizens need to build a consensus around major issues of concerns and develop a national template for some irreducible behaviour in leadership positions.
He said this is because nation building is an unfinished business before every generation and it is always a pressing business of the day that must be done urgently.
“These challenges that affect our country today, provide us with the opportunity to take a position and take a stand and walk for the resolution of such challenges.
“Nigeria will belong to those who are prepared to stand up, stand firm and take control of their destinies as the late Senator Robert Kennedy once said, `it is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped’.
“We can all to do a bit in our little ways to cause a beautiful change that will lead us to make our country and indeed the world a better place.
“I am personally uncomfortable with the practice of our politics and our political conversation; we should have outgrown bigotry, tribalism and ethno religious biases.
“It is time to rekindle the candle of a new Nigeria and the coming transition provides another opportunity for us to take a new day at making a new Nigeria of our dream.’’
Fayemi called on citizens to love the country and imagine it as a major world power in no distant time.
According to him, leaders are made from the crucible of experience of passion and courage and the readiness to sacrifice because nothing ventured is nothing gained.
“If we trace Hamzat’s history very well from who he was and the focused dedicated and inspirational Youngman he has become, we will see he has taken strongly from this lessons.
“He is the founder of Follow the Money, a civic tech advocacy platform, that has helped in tracking government expenditure and service delivery.’’
Fayemi said that Hamzat is a major voice in the sustainable development goals action movement for young people and emerging leaders.
He said that some lessons to take away from Hamzat’s story include that for one to succeed, one needs to imbibe certain virtues in life and that is one of the most important things youths often take for granted.
Fayemi therefore urged youths to value knowledge because without it they would not develop the right intellect, experience and skill set that to help them prepare for a functional future.
He said that the pursuit of knowledge would liberate them from fears, biases and limitations.
Credit: PmNewsNigeria