Benin chief calls for better governance

Benin chief calls for better governance

A prominent traditional chief in Benin, southern Nigeria, Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, at a lecture in Lagos, has called for better governance to enable the country achieve its vision 20:20:20 goal.

He made the call at the lecture entitled, ‘Survival of the Nigerian State: The Economic and Political Implications’

Poor performance

Aimiuwu identified under performance and lack of achievement by Nigerian leaders as a form of disaster ravaging the country.

He noted that Nigeria should have been among the world leaders as a member of organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) but the poor performance of some political leaders over the years had denied her the position.

“We want to be in the top 20 in the world league, yet we are the least performer amongst the OPEC countries due to poor performance over the years,” he said.

Africa’s new economic powerhouse.

Aimiuwu explained that South Africa had long put her travails behind and become Africa’s new economic powerhouse.

“Nigeria provided refuge and succour to South Africa during the apartheid struggle. She was so strong and vibrant that the world literally conceded to her the chair of UN Anti- Apartheid Commission permanently,” he said.

He expressed the need for Nigeria to confront all the fundamental challenges that had devastated her economy, the polity and human lives.

Aimiuwu commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his transformation strategies, which he said, would bring about changes in the country.

Positive impact

Also speaking, Dr Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) said the lecture was a way of adding his voice to critical national issues that affect the common man and to proffer solutions.

He said the lecture was aimed at positively impacting the public through insightful and educative presentation by astute and erudite scholars from different professions.

“Over the years the targeted audience has always been the general public, both young and old, especially the youth’,’ he said.

NAN/Chiamaka/Ekata