Plans by Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to return to the classroom as an  academic appear to be at the final stage as the Vice Chancellor of  Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof  Dipo Aina, presented to the governor documents on the establishment of the Institute of Governance as passed by the Varsity  Council.

Fayemi is billed to lecture at the institute when it takes off next session, thus becoming  the first sitting governor  in the country to serve as a university teacher.

The Governor, who had severally expressed interest in impacting knowledge in the students of peace and conflict studies in the state-owned University was presented with the documents at the  opening session of the 7th international annual conference of Society for Peace Studies and Practice held at the EKSU Campus in Ado Ekiti.

Fayemi, who holds a doctoraste degree in war studies from King’s College, London, said the institute will help to analyse the situation of the nation’s democracy; even as he stated that it is the duty of all to guarantee peace in the society.

He stressed that peace cannot be guaranteed in the absence of  justice and development. He then called on  Nigerians to work towards peaceful co-existence among all interest groups in the country.

“Peace”, he stated, is a “necessary ingredient in nation building and development”. “We should move from empty sloganeering to concerted efforts at restoring peace to the society. And the university system can play a significant role through teachings and research in peace and conflict studies.”. While speaking on the nation’s democratic experience, the governor asserted that alternation of power is the surest way to consolidate  democracy; adding that Nigeria has not witnessed any transition since it is still the same regime that is in power.

Dr. Fayemi, while citing Ghana which has held five general  elections since 1992 with the ruling and opposition parties alternating power, stated that Nigeria only has democracy in form but not in content, stressing that  so many factors  that characterise democracy are still lacking in Nigeria.

He however expressed optimism that the conference will help to augment the “quality and texture” of democracy in Nigeria even as the term is already abused.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, also at the event, advocated for a democratic system that will adequately address the volatile situation of the polity.