Gbenro Adesina
Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin has said that lack of good governance has remained the bane of socio-economic development of Nigeria, even as the country marks her sixty years of Independence.
Ogundoyin said at 60, the nation needs quality and selfless leaders, who would practice, promote and champion good governance for all round development expressing disappointment over the attitude of the nation’s leaders who have crippled the growth of the nation.
His words, “It is disheartening that the nation seems to lack policy direction six decades after gaining Independence from the British Colonialists. We need selfless leaders who will build this country and restore her to the path of greatness and ideal governance which was the dream of the Nationalists who fought for Independence”.
He stated that God has been so good to Nigeria as He has blessed it with abundant human and material resources, adding that Nigerians, especially, the leaders at all levels must make good and judicious use of the nation’s wealth for the betterment of the citizenry.
Ogundoyin said that the period of the sixtieth Independence Anniversary must be used to pray for the country and to review and assess the nation’s journey since Independence with a view to righting the wrongs.
“It is our National Day and the journey has been on for the past 60years. October first was the day a free nation was born. The day we all agreed irrespective of ethno-religious differences to come together to build a strong nation. We still have a long way to go though. I believe no nation is perfect or has got it all. We need to put in our best and our best this time isn’t good at all. My advice is for us to continue to pray for our dear nation to get it right especially in terms of leadership. I congratulate Nigerians, Governor Seyi Makinde and the entire people of Oyo State on this very auspicious celebration. Let me say that our Governor has proved to be a worthy leader who meant well for his people”, he added.
The Speaker stressed the need for the nation’s leaders to tackle the twin problem of unemployment and poverty, which he noted was largely responsible for the high level of insecurity in the country.
“The latest cases of insecurity particularly the recent upsurge in the unholy activities of Boko Haram which led to deadly attack on the convoy of the Borno state Governor where death toll continues to rise calls for greater concern. Why are we waging war against ourselves having co-existed for six decades ? Why do we still have kidnappings and ritual killings all around at this age when other developed nations are advancing in technology and making breakthrough in research activities. It is surely a disturbing and challenging situation and scenario”, he concluded.
