BY GBENGA OKE
IKENNE — Two eminent Nigerians, Prof. Itse Sagay and Prof. Pat Utomi have attributed Nigeria’s under-development to immaturity of Nigerian politicians.

Both men spoke, yesterday, in Ikenne, Ogun State at a special dialogue for The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation tagged “Transformational leadership and good governance: Lessons from the Awolowo Example.”

According to Prof.Sagay, the wealth of Nigeria has not transformed into development and high standard of living for Nigerians just because the political elite of this nation have turned themselves into locusts and  were consuming Nigeria’s resources.”

He said: “I call the type of conduct exhibited by our modern politicians, political immaturity. They have turned Nigeria into a value deficient society and what we are suffering today is from immaturity of political elite.

“What you find out in other developed countries of the world is that the impulse to accumulate wealth quickly and primitively at the expense of the public is not there.

“The answer is that we do not have an Obafemi Awolowo in control at Abuja, who is ready to fight for freedom and liberty of our people.

It is extremely difficult to think, speak or write about the late Obafemi Awolowo in less than hyperbolic terms because Awo’s accomplishments as a visionary leader are legendary because he went through the rigour of studying man and his environment in order to increase his already immense capacity to provide good governance and the promotion of the welfare of humanity in Nigeria.

“What distinguished Obafemi Awolowo from today’s politicians was his devotion to service which is the most decisive issue apart from modern day politicians who earn N15 million a month; who steal everything from money allocated to power generation, health and immunization, roads and unspent funds of ministries at the end of the financial year.”

Also speaking on “The Nigerian economy: The imperative for an enabling environment,” Utomi  said Nigeria was recently ranked 14th among the most failed nations in the world, adding that the biggest time-bomb Nigeria is facing now was umemployment.

According to him, Nigeria does not need strong men but strong institutions that will drive the economic programmes of this country.

His words: “What Nigeria needs today is transformational leaders such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Abraham Lincoln of America. Leaders who see ahead of time the challenges facing their countries and have what it takes to solve those problems.”

He however said that government needs to stop developing Abuja and develop other zones of the country stating that these are some of the reasons why we have insecurity today.

He said “About 40percent of this country’s money goes into development of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and about 1.2percent of our resources goes into the North-East, so why do you expect  Nigeria not to experience the insecurity we are experiencing from Boko Haram now?.

“Government needs to look into each of the community and regions in the country and see what can be utilized from there rather than this sharing of resources alone”.

In his submission, the governor of Rivers state, Governor Rotimi Amaechi who was represented by Senator Magnus said the challenges of leadership is because our leaders do not know where we are going and thus makes it difficult for the followers to know the direction we are headed.

According to him, “Today’s issues are not different from other issues Chief Awolowo addresses in the past but It is imperative we ask ourselves where we are heading to and until we find the right answers as to where we are heading, there might not be leadership transformation in Nigeria”.

“Our argument today after the death of Chief Obafemi Awolowo was what he stood for, what he represented and where he was going because after the declaration of Independence in the United States of America, every citizen of the country knows the direction they are going”.

He stated, “Nigeria’s greatest problem remains the sharing formula and we need to create avenues for production and wealth creation more than just sharing”.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu said Chief Obafemi Awolowo introduced issue based politics to Nigeria when his party Action Group was launched in 1951 and he articulated development agenda that put people firmly at the centre of the process.

She went further, “On assumption of office in 1952, he enunciated three principles by which the drafting of the region’s budget would be guided and essentially, these principles were about spending more money on services which will enhance the welfare, health and education of the people at the expense of any expenditure”.

She emphasized that as the custodian the late sage intellectual legacy, the foundation considers it its responsibility to encourage the Nigeria leaders and citizenry.

“The foundation must remain faithful to its mission by constantly engaging with the policy making and governance process in a constructive manner as Chief Awolowo did throughout his life in and out of office” adding that “The foundation will continue to strive to walk and talk worthy of Awolowo’s legacy of commitment, integrity and excellence as a politician”.

Dignitaries that  graced the event include Chief Olu Falae, former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Fomer Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola, first governor of Delta state, Chief Felix Ibru, representative of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Professor Dele Akinola, Mrs Shilla Shomori, Dr Kunle Olajide, Professor Ayo Olukotun, MD of Tribune Newspapers, Rev Sam Adesuwa, Dr Kunle Olajide, Sen Femi Okurounmun, Sir Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Ladi Williams, representatives of Ooni of Ife, His Royal majesty, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu Oba K.A Adegoke,  Oba Omoloye Oyelade, The Onisalu of Edun kingdom, Oba Aderemi Adedapo of Ido Osun, the Otun of Olubadan, Chief Omowale Kuye amongst others.