PROFESSIONALS SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS TO ENSURE A BETTER NIGERIA- AKIM YUSUF
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By Olusayo Elutinju
Oyo State Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) during last February/March general election, Akim Yusuf mni, has urged Nigerian professionals to participate in politics.
Yusuf gave the advice while delivering a speech as the guest speaker at the fund-raising ceremony of the Rotary Club of Ikeja South, held in Lagos on Sunday.
He charged the gathering to put all hands together to ensure Nigeria becomes a “developed, peaceful, well-managed equitable society, which stands like a massive oak tree that offers protection and comfort to every creature taking refuge in its shade.
“This is what our country, Nigeria, ought to be to her citizens. I am afraid; we have failed, monumentally in this regard”.
He added, “the human race is currently at an unprecedented level of socio-economic, scientific, technological and medical advancement. Man continues to stretch his understanding, dominance and utilisation of natural resources to push the frontiers for the next generation of human existence. The extent of innovation and innovativeness can best be described in the “Gen Z” lingo- “mad o”.
“I commend our young citizens championing phenomenal exploits in technology, medicine, sports, engineering, the arts and entertainment across the globe. They have been wonderful ambassadors of Brand Nigeria.
“A fact that we must, however, remind ourselves of is that these young men and women are practically surviving off their talents and dint of hard work. We, as a country, have not really provided the best of environments for these talents and innovators to thrive. No matter how much these great young Nigerians have achieved, we have not even scratched the surface of the opportunities offered by the abundant talent in the country.
“When we delve into the realm of development economics, Nigeria is considered a highly endowed country. We have an abundance of several of the factors that drive national development, including:
Human Resources;
Natural resources and extractive minerals;
Technology;
Power and energy resources;
Capital; and
Ease of mobility
“Nigeria is highly blessed with most of these factors and we also, ostensibly, have the economic “power” to acquire the ones in which we are deficient.
“Yet, our motherland continues to struggle with the symptomatic challenges of underdevelopment like massive youth unemployment, embarrassingly erratic power supply, crude criminality as well as appalling public utilities and social services.
“We are, proverbially, “suffering in the midst of plenty”.
“The question to ask is: do we truly have “plenty”?
“Commendably”, Nigeria’s current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stands at about US$477.6 billion making us the 26th largest economy in the world. However, when compared to the top ten whose GDP’s are between US$1.7 trillion and US$ 20.5 trillion; there is still significant work to be done by Nigeria and Nigerians.
“Considering the more analytical GDP per capita which relates GDP to a country’s population; our dear “26th largest economy in the world” and the largest in Africa ranks woefully in 18th position in Africa and 133rd globally.
“Our GSP per capita is US$2,184; the top ten countries in the world earn between US$56,000 (10th) to US$127,000 (1st).
“In plain language, we are really a poor country relying on our physical size and population to call ourselves the “Giant of Africa”. We are under-productive hence our mass poverty.
“This reality of our situation gives cause for concern. One wonders why it is difficult for us as a Nation to see the glaring lapses and visible solutions to several of our problems.
“People like you and I comfortably pursue our careers and life goals expecting our leaders to fix our national issues. We do not wonder if these leaders really understand the issues or possess the capacity to find or implement appropriate solutions.
“I have been like that too. For over twenty years, I ignored calls to participate more actively in politics until a comment by a politician pricked my thought. Drawing from my experience at the State and Federal levels, I realized that I was offering solutions to Nigeria’s challenges in the wrong places – the comfort of my or friends’ homes and offices. My problem (as with many of us referred to as professionals) is that we cling to our semblances of comfort and expect “others” to run the Nation. That is what is wrong with many of us: we have a wrong “ATTITUDE” to Nation-building.
“We pay the least attention to the factors that should concern us most – politics, the public service, agriculture, manufacturing, productivity and security. We usually find it easy to abdicate responsibility or escape from reality rather than join efforts in finding and implementing solutions.
“We promote, relish, pursue and protect personal and parochial advantages without considering the consequences on other people and society.
“We prefer to drive against traffic or flout traffic regulations than join or respect efforts to clear traffic jams. Parents invest in “special examination centers” so that their children and wards can score indefensible grades in examinations. Politicians will rather manipulate, rig or buy election results than respect the will of the people. Public office holders and civil servants collude to fleece the Nation’s treasury to acquire ill-gotten wealth to create personal comfort; all of these and more negative behaviour to the detriment of the whole society”
Also at the ceremony, Rotarian Durotimi Adeboye was investitured as the 37th president and induction of Board of Directors of the Rotary Club Of Ikeja South
While congratulating Rotarian Adeboye, Yusuf said ” Mr. President, I congratulate you on your appointment and I am sure that you are being rewarded for the hard work that you have done in the past. Please remember that the reward for hardwork is harder work” We wish you every grace to achieve resounding success.
In closing, Yusuf said” I must commend the Rotary Club of Ikeja South for conferring your Presidency on my illustrious friend and brother – Rotarian Adeboye. I have known him for close to forty years since I stepped into the University in 1984. Though my senior, he is one gentleman who relates with everyone with mutual dignity and respect. At the same time, I empathise with you in advance because “Duroy” as we fondly call him is a go-getter and I know a lot of your members will need steroids to keep up with his drive and persistence. I am certain, in God, that his will be a tenure of tremendous positive impact”
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