Former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Professor Anya O. Anya has bemoaned the worsening conditions of Nigerians 20 years after the return to democracy.
The renowned biologist and national merit award winner who was guest lecturer at the annual lecture of The Niche Newspaper in Lagos lamented that Nigeria was crumbling under the weight of bad leadership.
“It is pertinent to note that in the nearly twenty-five years of the celebrated return to democracy as a system of governance, all factors relating to the welfare of individuals has steadily retrogressed even as inequality has exponentially widened. Poverty, educational and health facility, quality of life, food sufficiency, and shelter have all gone south. The reason for this is not far-fetched; every government has lacked the will to fulfil their oath,” he said.
Speaking further, Anya declared that the country was in a political, social, economic and moral crisis.
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“Nigeria is currently enmeshed in a multi-dimensional crisis. We are currently in a political, social, economic and moral crisis” he declared.
His assertion was corroborated by Mr Dele Alake, former commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State.
Alake, who represented the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu asserted that the country lacked leaders who had the vision, knowledge and will to make the country better.
“For over 50 years of our existence as a country, we have lacked leaders who have the vision, knowledge and will to drive the growth of the country. Rather, we have had a set of leaders who keep rotating power amongst themselves. The fortune of the country lies in the hands of the people, not a few elite. The elite will only formulate policies that will favour the elite. The fortune of the country will not improve until the masses goad the leaders to do what is right,” he said.
Speaking also, the chairman on the occasion Dr Christopher Kolade, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom affirmed that the timing of the lecture is apt as there is a burning need to address the economic situation in the country and proffer solutions.
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In his welcome address Managing Director/Editor in Chief of The Niche, Ikechukwu Amechi said the theme of the annual lecture; ‘Business and Accountable Governance; The Obligation of Leadership’ was chosen to emphasise the prevailing economic situation in the country and the role the media has to play in the development of the country.
In his words, “the media has a huge role to play in propelling the ship of this country, sadly, not much, if anything has changed. The socio-economic terrain has gone from bad to worse. Today, the elephant in the room is the worsening economic crisis in the country and it is hoped that the debate of today will proffer solution to the crisis,” he said
