By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, weekend, blamed Nigerian’s underdevelopment on what he described as the poverty of ideas of its leaders over the years.

The Governor made the declaration in Lagos, while delivering a lecture on “Effective Governance in a Developing Economy” at this year’s Award/Dinner Night of the Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria,  weekend.

Oshiomhole expressed dismay at the degradation of the country from the status of a developing country to that of an underdeveloped one, blaming the retrogression on incompetent leadership over the  years.

He emphasized that there exist today, a complete deviation from the past, when there existed institutions that worked, functional industries and rail system, responsive, qualitative education and job opportunities as well as a healthy competition in the system.

“When you look at the evidence on ground and ask the question ‘Is Nigeria developing’ the answer is No.”

Oshiomhole, however, canvassed for a general outcry against the prevalence of God-fatherism, electoral malpractices and imposition of candidates in the electoral system, while also advocating reforms in the judicial system where electoral disputes are speedily dispensed of.

He commended the appointment of Prof. Atahiru Jega by President Goodluck Jonathan as Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, chair. He called for total independence for the commission.

In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Prof. Christian Chukwu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Health, Alhaji Suleiman Bello, called for a collective commitment of all to protect the sanctity of the health sectors, stressing that a Presidential Committee is being proposed for the health sector, to help in National Health Care reforms.