By Daud Olatunji
ABEOKUTA— GOVERNOR of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, weekend, expressed fears over the degenerating security situation in the country and blamed the nation’s leaders for the high rate of poverty and insecurity that have placed a burden of woes on the younger generation.

Lamido, who spoke after he received a doctorate  degree in Agriculture (Honoris Causa) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, during the institution’s 20th convocation ceremony, said the situation had compounded the poverty level amongst the people.

He said, “I think we need to ponder. If only we can ponder and interrogate ourselves what have we done wrong? If only we can individually resolve to do right, may be  things will be better. Shouldn’t our young graduands and the generation before them be optimistic of a better future for us and our children? If others can rise above their limitations why not us? Shouldn’t we all seize our destiny in our hands?

“As we are gathered here as leaders, why don’t we do some reflections? In our younger days as we were growing and being developed, the care and support we got from our parents, communities, religious leaders and institutions of government all combined to make us what we are today. Are we improving or even giving the same support to today’s children?

“If we cannot improve, the least we can do is to maintain the same standard. But criminally, we cannot even do that. We only need to look around to discover our failures. And yet we are leaders— leadership is the missing link in today’s contemporary Nigeria.”