By Adeyinka Moyosore Kotoye
INTRODUCTORY:
It gives me great joy and honour to have been invited to speak at this great event, on the topic as mentioned above. I most sincerely thank the organisers for this rare privilege. Given the array of distinguished guests present here today, especially, the presence of our Baba, former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is the Keynote Speaker, I consider myself lowly placed and too inexperienced to give an exhaustive exposition of the major components of the topic of discourse.
This is moreso, given the rich pedigree and accomplishment of the keynote Speaker, who, not only has had a practical experience of the theme, but also has an institute that caters for the theme and has consistently, written, trained and still training several people, on both the art and act of leadership, as well as followership.
However, I shall endeavour to give an analysis, of the major ingredients, taken from my humble perspective, first as someone, who had hitherto attempted to lead and/or contested for position of leadership, under this current dispensation but largely, as a concerned citizen of this our great country. Therefore, all views and opinion, expressed here, are solely mine and all, arose from my personal experience.
THE THEORY OF THE FOUR IDIOTS.
I will commence my contribution, with the one of the stories about Sultan Mirza Muhammad Akbar, one of the greatest Mughal emperors of India, who was alleged to have reigned around 1556 – 1605. It is told that, sometimes during his reign, the legendary Sultan, asked one of his favourite servants, named Birbal, to look for four biggest idiots in his kingdom and produce them in his court within a month. After several months of extensive search, the said servant brought only two people to the court. The sultan was worried and queried the servants – “But I asked for four” and the servant pleaded that, he be given a chance to present them one by one.
In presenting the first the first “idiot”, the servant said thus:- “Maharaj, this man, while travelling in a bullock cart, was keeping his luggage on his head so as not to hurt the bullocks. He is the first idiot”. In Leadership, Governance and Administrative parlance, this refers to those leaders who does not delegate authority/task/assignments/jobs, but who does everything by themselves.
Thereafter, he presented the second man and was alleged to have said “some grass grew on the roof of his thatched house and he was trying to force his cow to climb up a ladder to graze it”. In Leadership, Governance and Administrative parlance, these refer to Leaders/Administrators, who set unrealistic targets and force others to achieve them without realising the inherent dangers and limitations.
The servants continued and said “Maharaji, there were a lot of important jobs for me to do in the state, but I ignored them and wasted a precious month in search of idiots. According to me, I am the third idiot.” This refer to servants/followers/loyalist and other forms of quislings, who slavishly follow their leaders, blindly carry out all instructions/commands/directions of their leaders, without questioning, conscience and morality.
A shocked and surprised Sultan thereafter retorted, “Who is the fourth idiot?” In answering, the servant submitted – “You are the King and are responsible for the well – being of the entire state and its people. You need wise persons to help you oversee the affairs of the state. Instead of looking for wise people you engaged me to look for idiots. According to me you are the fourth idiot.” This illustration refer to all leaders who make/bad/wrong decisions, strategies, policy and whip/force/coerce, all their followers to follow blindly. It’s a classical example of leaders, who rather than seek competent hands to assist them in the affairs the state, look for minions, who will always do their bidding.
LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP CONCEPTS IN THE BIBLE.
The Bible is replete with several verses on leadership and description of the attribute of a good leader. Most of the verses identify humility and service, wisdom and care for those governed, as some of the attributes of a good leader. For instance, in Mathew 20: verses 26 – 28, our Lord Jesus Christ, taught us that to be a great leader, you must be willing to serve. Therefore, leadership and greatness, comes from service. In 1st Peter 5, verses 2 -3, Leaders are expected to shepherd God’s people willingly and not as domineering lords. There are several verses that also highlights integrity, continuous improvement, the danger of lack of guidance, exemplary lifestyle, accountability, humility, must be responsible and righteous.
In the same vein, the Bible also teaches us that a follower must respect, obey and pray for their leaders, who are, also accountable to God. Hebrews 13 vs. 17 says:-
“Obey your Leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will give an account”
We can see from the above that, in the Bible, followership is presented as an essential aspect of faith, deeply rooted in discipleship and leadership. It is characterised by compulsory obedience, especially in the Old Testament and a strong commitment to living according to God’s teachings. The Old Testament was simply about law. However, the New Testament is about a call to “Follow me”, as exemplified by the teachings of the disciples. Whilst the Old Testament places emphasis on a wholehearted commitment and absolute loyalty, the New Testament focus, is about discipleship, transformation, following Jesus Christ example and being a servant leader.
Over all, followers in both the Old and New Testament are expected to have the following attributes: submission and faithfulness, imitating the Leaders faith, influence and impact, choosing Leaders wisely and not blind followers. A good example of a great follower, is Ruth, whose unwavering loyalty to Naomi, even in difficult circumstances, demonstrates the power and blessing of a faithful follower. The following verses of the Bible, demonstrates some of the meaning of being a follower, what God says about being a follower and what a follower is expected to do:- Luke 9 vs. 23, Mathew 4 vs. 19, Joshua 1 vs. 9 and Mathew 9 vs. 9.
LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP CONCEPTS IN THE QURAN.
In Islamic teachings, the concept of leadership is derived from the Quran and Sunnah. The Sunnah is the teaching and practices of Prophet Muhammed (Swt), as documented. It focused mainly on qualities like justice, compassion, trustworthiness, wisdom and consultations. Leaders are regarded as trustees (Amanah), whose duty is to guide their followers towards righteousness and well – being in this life and the hereafter. They are expected to posses the following attributes, trust, responsible, sense of justice and fairness, good listener (Shura), wise, knowledgeable, compassionate, merciful, courageous, brave, humble, selfless and a follower of the prophet’s example. In fact, at Chapter 21 vs. 73, of the Quran, it is said thus:-
“And we made them leaders, guiding by Our command; and We inspired them to do good works, and to observe the prayer, and to give out charity. They were devoted servant to us.” Furthermore, in the Hadith (bukhari), it is said thus:-
“Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.”
This highlights the responsibility of every individual in a position of leadership, even within smaller groups.
In essence, in both the Quran and the Sunnah, leadership is considered as a sacred trust (Amanah) and a responsibility to guide followers towards good, emphasizing justice, consultation and servant leadership. The synergy, between a leader and a follower, in Islam, is that a leader is required to seek the advice of his followers but is not obligated to act upon it if his own judgment, based on Islamic values, indicates otherwise. The followers, are however, obliged to obey the leader at all times, except when he orders something prohibited in Islam. Under the Sunni sect, Leaders are an informal group of people, who had gained influence through study to become a scholar of Islamic law (sharia) or Islamic theology (Kalam).
LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP CONCEPTS WITHIN THE AFRICAN RELIGION.
Unlike the two imported religions highlighted above, the concept of leadership and followership, in the African setting, is rooted in the principle of a social contract, where leaders guide and followers provide loyalty, commitment, focus on collective well- being, ethical conduct and communal harmony. Whilst leaders hold authority and responsibility for providing for their communities, followers have a duty to support them, provided the guidance is proper and beneficial. This relationship is often intertwined and reciprocal, requiring shared responsibility for development and the pursuit of the greater good. The concept of “Ubuntu” (humanness and moral regeneration) and “Umoja”(togetherness), is predicated on this principle. In the African context, a leader is expected to show spiritual and ethical guidance, responsible and trustworthy and must have capacity to empower the followers, who on the other hand must demonstrate loyalty, commitment, ethical conduct/obligation and active participation in communal affairs.
LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP CONCEPTS AMONGST THE YORUBAS.
The Yorubas, are a group of people, majority of which inhabit the southwestern part of Nigeria and has a population of around 40 – 50 million people worldwide. Some are in Togo, Benin Republic, Brazil and the Caribbean. They constitute about 21% of the Nigerian population. Their leadership is hierarchical, familial and clan based. The rulers/kings are referred to generally as “Oba” or “Olu” or “Baale”. Much emphasis is placed on cultural values, community and collective responsibility, rather than individualism. The followership on the other hand is not only about passive obedience, as we have under both Islamic and Christian type of leadership, but an active one, where the followers, play substantial role within an established structure. Followers are expected to contribute to the collective good and support the collective responsibility for the community, which reinforces the dispersed nature of their leadership. Messrs Olayinka Akanle and Gbenga S. Adeoye, both of the department of Sociology at the premier university in Ibadan, in their seminal work, after reviewing the Yoruba Economic, Political, Religious, Educational, family institutions and dispute resolution mechanism, concluded that the Yoruba traditional institutions, values, norms and tenets are relevant in resolving the huge leadership deficit in Nigeria today. They opined thus:- “There is no doubt about the fact that Yoruba traditional institutions – values, cultures, norms and tenets-offer very useful and relevant ideas for resolving the huge leadership deficit in Nigeria today.
Across all the institutions, there are elements that can be appropriated in some ways to enhance leadership in the country……a careful consideration of values shows relevant ones abound. Even with apparent modernity, westernisation and globalisation, many Yoruba traditional values hold sway and remain relevant as leadership values. Unfortunately, most of these values are not taught anymore and families as well as other social institutions are themselves corrupted and struggle to cope with modernity, westernisation and globalisation but are largely corroded. What is to be acknowledged is the stealth modernity and its impacts on Yoruba tradition. The core cultural values of the people are fast giving in to the lures and seduction of exogamous forces of change.”
LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP WITHIN THE NIGERIAN CONTEXT.
In its 16th of July, 2025 online edition, the Business Day Newspaper, reported that our Keynote Speaker, stated that Nigeria’s problem “stem from its leadership rather than the constitution itself.” In that news item/report, written by one Ladi Patrick-Okwoli, the former President, was reported to have written a letter addressed to the Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chairman of the National Summit on the future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, in Abuja, wherein, he submitted that our problem is not the document that we call the constitution but rather the individual saddled with the responsibility of implementing it. The legendary Ebora, wrote from experience, both as a soldier, a former Commissioner for Works, a former number 2 man under late Murtala Mohammed, a former Head of State (1976 – 1979), a former President (1999 – 2007) and above all, an elder stateman of international repute.
In as much as I agree with the above, I am of the humble view that, it is also an admission of failure on the part of our Keynote Speaker and self – indicting. This is because of his rich pedigree, as highlighted above. Our Baba, has the fortune of giving us a constitution (1979), the first person to implement the current one and both of which has not solved our problems. Above all and in addition to Baba’s position, I will also submit that the followers, especially, the elites, including my humble self are part of the problems of the country and it is not limited to the failure of leadership alone. It also include poor, disloyal, uncommitted and unpatriotic citizens. This therefore bring me back to the theory of the four idiots, discussed at paragraphs 1.0 – 5.0 above.
There is no better illustration of this malady, than the recent activity of some wannabe journalist, who call themselves “influencers” but who I refer to as “Gbatueyo or Bolekaja journalist”. At an event held at the Aso rock official residence of our current leader and under the auspices of the office of the SSA to the President on Social Media, this group of Bolekaja influencers, consisting of about 1000 members, as claimed in their release, used state facility ,funds and resources to organise a party event tagged “Progressive Digital Media Summit 2025” and to show, how daring they are, actually included the logo of the ruling party in its flyers and other official documents. The twitter handle of one of the participant, who referred to himself as High Chief Okoro (Sir Law), wherein he wrote:- “Progressives spent the weekend chilling at Aso Villa, Wi – Fi blazing, Ac chilling, jollof steaming…..”, affords us an opportunity of having a glimpse of what happened at the event. It was a mere jamboree.
2.09 In my humble view, the above show clearly, a citizentry/followership that it is not only materially pauperised but also one that is mentally lazy and lack all the attributes listed at paragraphs 1 – 14 above. No wonder, David Hundeyin referred to them as follows:-
“Rice, air conditioning, and fast internet access. I won’t join the pile-on, because I disagree with it, but because this guy’s tweet has given me a very valuable insight into the revolutionary potential that exists within the Nigerian population, and it is as follows;- Whenever revolutionary leadership emerges in Nigeria, the only real trick it needs to deploy to keep the population on its side despite the usual foreign influence and interference blitzkrieg, will be to deluge a critical mass of the people with a few cheap comforts. That’s it. The majority population in Nigeria as it currently exists is not configured to understand ideological revolutions of any kind…….What they do understand is creature comforts. Rice, cheap high -speed internet – Tik Tok, movies, and porn – and an AC blowing at 18 degree C overhead to counteract the oppressive 40 degree C humidity outside. Give them these things, and you become indispensable to them – no amount of NED and State Department regime change shenanigans will ever successfully turn them against you as long as they have their Wi–Fi blazing, AC blowing, and jollof steaming. …….The Nigerian does not understand complexity and has been conditioned to be reflexively hostile toward anything remotely intellectual. Just give him hot, steaming jollof rice with 1 piece of meat, a cheap MTN 4G 30Gb data package, and a 2nd hand 1.5HP split unit AC, and you’re free to pursue your nationalist agenda. In fact if anyone then tries to get in your way, the Nigerian will see that as a threat to his continued supply of rice, porn, and cold air and will sleep in the streets to defend you like the Venezualans did to defend Chavez… ”
I agree entirely with the above view of David Hundeyin and as we normally read in law reports, I adopt it as mine. He gave a complete graphic illustration of who we are as a people, especially, those of us called, elites and the youths. The only point missing, in that narrative, is the fact that, we always view, all issues of national discuss, from either, a religious, tribal, partisan or special interest perspective. Public policy analyst, Media Lawyers, Journalists, especially the ones referred to as “Gbatueyo and Bolekaje”, who call themselves influencers are often the purveyors of this ignominy.
I suspect that, what the organisers of the so called “Progressive Digital Media Summit 2025” and their “Gbatueyo and Bolekaja”, influencers will be doing, in the next couple of months, since the 2027 elections, is fast approaching, is to dish out outright falsehood and attempt to outdo their predecessor, the Buhari Media Organisation, otherwise known as BMO. The BMO, an amorphous body/group, established and maintained at public expense, by the last administration, was the official propaganda machinery of the Buhari administration, who not only spewed but fed, outright falsehood to Nigerians and which nearly all of us, as followers lapped up, without questioning.
A typical example of the falsehood, is the recent admission of Mr. Shehu Garba, one of Buhari’s spokesperson, about the lies, that his office had to dish out to hide Buhari’s illness. In his recent book, he admitted that he had to manufacture the story of the file eating rats and their invasion of Aso Rock, in order to deflect the public attention, from the horrible fact of Buhari’s absent Presidency. It is a notorious fact that the late President, spent over 225 days abroad, during his eight year reign, on medical trip in the UK.
SHEHU GARBA, THE FOUR IDIOTS AND THE NIGERIAN STATE.
At this point, there is a need to interrogate the story of the four idiots, as narrated above, with the office that Mr. Shehu Garba occupied, the role that he played under PMB and the Nigerian State, as a whole. In this context, King Babu is Sultan Mirza Muhammad Akbar, whilst Shehu Garba is Birbal, the servant. The question therefore arising is: was Shehu Garba ever bold enough to tell King Babu that he is wrong anytime King Babu takes a wrong decision?
From the recent confession of Mallam Shehu Garba, the answer is obviously in the negative. This is not surprising given the quisling nature of the character. Someone who rose to national prominence as an Atiku spokesperson but switched camp when pepper res after the 2015 election.
2.12 Another question to be asked is whether King Babu would have listened to Garba Shehu, if he (Shehu Garba), decides to say the truth or whether the avalanche of hangers on inside the presidency would have allowed him to say the truth of what actually happened? I will also answer that question in the negative. This is because, given the nature of that administration, the totality of their essence was predicated on lies, falsehood, misrepresentation and outright manipulation. Right from the emergence of King Babu, as a contestant at the primaries, his nominations, contest during the election and ascension to power, everything that surrounds him were pure manipulations and outright falsehood. All thanks to the rebranding by Debola Lagos, a PR expert, for making us believe that King Babu is now a repented Democrat and not the person that we knew in 1983 – 1985, a coupist.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the summary of all the above show a clear fact that, our challenge as a country is not only about the failure of Leadership, there is also the attendant failure of followership. The Garba Shehu scenario is not an isolated case. There were several and even worst than him, in that government. The Minister of Information, under the same regime, also confirmed, in one of his interviews, whilst still in the office, that, public, including members of his family, also had the perception that the entire administration is riddled with several fantastic story spinners. There were also several before them. The likes of late Wada nonsense, Ofonagooro, etc, precede Mallam Garba Shehu in this skill. There are several who has now succeeded them in this administration. They all forget the Yoruba proverb, which says “Eeyan meji ki npa danu iro. Ti eni a ba npa fun o bam o. Eni npa ma mo”, meaning that two people cannot be fooled upon a lie at the same time. If the person being lied to is not aware that, he/she is being lied to, the liar, must be aware that he is telling a lie. This is a failure of both the leader – King Babu and his followers.
I have decided to put my laser focus on the 1000 members of the “Serekode” group that attended the so called summit and will henceforth monitor their activities, just the same way that I monitored that of the BMO. Not that I expected any altruistic value from the falsehood that will be served the members of the public but just to satisfy my curiosity, about the nebulous nature of the organisation, its members and their operations, in the hope that, maybe, after this administration, one of them will be pricked by conscience and follow the Shehu Garba route. After all, the Yorubas say “ti iro ba lo fun ogun odun, otito ni yio leke”, meaning, no matter how far or well spread, a lie, might spread, truth, will certainly prevail one day.
Their activity deserve attention and scrutiny because, first and foremost, all that they are going to be doing, task, assignment and work, will probably be funded from the public purse, under some ingenious scheme. Secondly and most importantly, setting over 1000, faceless loose cannons into the public space, without any control or leash, is not only dangerous to the polity but also capable of setting the country on fire. The BMO got away with their excesses, because, some of their controllers had some modicum of decency. However, from what I have seen of the current crop of people, its going to be a no holds bare situation. I pray that the country survives it. The recklessness of those that are close to the current occupant of Aso Rock, is out of this world. Another glaring example, is the Valuejet incident, at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, in Abuja. Irrespective of the angle, from which one might look at it, its highly irresponsible and a dereliction of duty on the part of the FAAN/NCAA officials, who allowed the subject to pass scrutiny, without disposing him of the liquid (whether alcohol or not) and extremely reckless of the subject, to have been on the tarmac, still arguing with officials, as at the time, the flight was about to take off. Both the subject and those officials ought to be sanctioned.
I have deliberately gone into the above, to support my position at paragraph 13 above that, it is not only the leadership that has failed, that the followership has also disappointed. It appears that we have all failed and the consequences is dire. It is here upon us and staring us in the face. We are so insincere in our administration and conduct of state affairs. We have elevated sophistry to become an art. Our leaders, both present and past, expect to be worshiped and not only glorified but also deitified or put on the same pedestal, with some unseen gods. I have refused to follow the multitudes because, my background and training as a Baptist, completely abhors such traits.
I am scared, when scholars like Messrs Olayinka Akanle and Gbenga S. Adeoye and writers like David Hundeyin, paint a gloomy picture, as quoted above. At the last paragraph of his post.
David Hundeyin wrote “…….The Nigerian does not understand complexity and has been conditioned to be reflexively hostile toward anything remotely intellectual. Just give him hot, steaming jollof rice with 1 piece of meat, a cheap MTN 4G 30Gb data package, and a 2nd hand 1.5HP split unit AC, and you’re free to pursue your nationalist agenda. In fact if anyone then tries to get in your way, the Nigerian will see that as a threat to his continued supply of rice, porn, and cold air and will sleep in the streets to defend you like the Venezualans did to defend Chavez… ”
The picture of a typical Nigerian, as written above is what the Yorubas call “omo ti ifun ni oran”, which has no direct literal English translation but could be described as an aphorism for “for food only” or a buffoon. However, I do not believe that this is who we truly are. Circumstances, may have made us look so but in reality, some of us still have our heads on our shoulders and can still walk tall anywhere. There are several Nigerians, who are excelling individually and collectively, outside government involvement and/or intervention, both at home and abroad. I will therefore refuse to tar everyone like that or cloth us in that garment.
The conclusion of Messrs Olayinka Akanle and Gbenga S. Adeoye, is even more grotesque and scary than what David Hundeyin wrote. I am an incurable optimist. I refuse to be persuaded by the gloomy scenario of hopelessness. I don’t believe that we are irredeemable. NO. There is hope.
LAW. LEADERSHIP. FOLOWERSHIP AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
In discussing these four concepts, I will take great motivation in the works of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, a foremost lawyer and activist, who spent his entire life, using the instrumentality of the law to promote social justice. His impact and contribution, in this field are too numerous to recount in this lecture. I however agree with the views and points contained at Chapter two of the book, written in his honour by the duo of Basirat Fawehinmi – Biobaku and Charles Emeka Ochem, in their book titled :- “Using Law to fight injustice, promote accountability and Good Governance: The Gani Fawehinmi landmark cases”.
It is a notorious fact that, the late legal luminary, in his lifetime, “instituted more suits than any Nigerian dead or alive through the courts”, as at that time. By my last count, he had over 23 cases, personally filed by him, in his name and all of which were against different organs of government, challenging all obnoxious policy of government, which he considers, inimical to the welfare of the ordinary citizen. In his own words, “I have always kicked against programmes which I considered inimical to the aspirations of Nigerians……..As long as government continue with their policies and programmes, so long shall I continue to challenge through the courts…..I will continue to fight through the Courts because I don’t believe in waggiong was against one’s fatherland.”
At pages 43 – 68, Chapter two of the book, the two authors identified good governance, accountability, fight against corruption, Rule of law and equality, as some of the ethos, norms, culture and practice, which law, as a tool for social engineering could be used to promote. Whilst I subscribe to this view, I will only add a caveat, that unless, we have a sincere and determined leadership, as well as a sincere and committed followership, all these might be a mirage and the consequences as it presently stared us in the face, may be very dire.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION.
Permit me to further use the summit held at Aso Rock as a compass to discuss my recommendation. It is not apposite to continue to sound like a broken reed all the time. I am not one of those, who lament, just to seek attention. There is a particular gentleman named Ayo Akinfe. I don’t know him. I have never met him but I am greatly enthused about his writing style and I intend to adopt same here. Unlike many critic, he identify an issue/problem and proffer solutions. Whether you agree with or not is a different thing. Whether the solutions are workable or not, is also another kettle of fish.
For instance, around Tuesday, the 5th of August, 2025, he weighed in on the recent success of the Falcons and made ten wonderful suggestion, on how to turn our adversity into a huge infrastructural upgrade and turning sport into a business.
As said earlier, I hope the participants at the Aso Rock summit and the office of the SSA, that is in charge, will, rather than expecting and working on political patronage alone, consider the points below:-
Expanding free and fast wi–fi or other form of internet access for all citizens. This is a common thing all over the world now. Data services is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity that now regulate every day human activity;
Use their free internet facility to project the positive side of the country and its people without hounding perceived enemy or critic of the administration for dissenting;
Avoid becoming a social media terrorist as it happened with the BMO;
Develop policies that will attract other social media platforms apart from the one that we currently have;
Develop policies that will prevent cyber – bullying but encourage our strength, unity and courage even though we may disagree on issues;
Encourage the development and use of locally made platforms. This will generate income from the software economy, provide employment and grow the GDP;
Create several tech hub in all the local governments in the country. This will complement the one at Yaba and encourage the growth of the creative sector of the economy; and;
Assist to develop a learning curriculum. This maybe school based or online but that will equip majority of our youths in learning the use of social media to earn an income legitimately. We need to have more indigenous cartoonist, online graphic artist, designers, 3D architects, Robotics Engineers, etc.
3.01 In addition to the above, I will also like to make the following general recommendations:-
We need to have a complete recalibration of our national ethos, norms, beliefs and values, if there is any yet and if there is none, to attempt to establish one;
For us to attain true nationhood, our motto should be “blessed be the tie that binds us” and not “to your tents oh Isreal”.
In that connection, I view the constant bashing and ethnic profiling of a section of the country, by this government’s propagandist, as not only an anathema to nationhood, it is also capable of leading us to the point of what gave rise to the civil war;
We need to renegotiate the bases of our joint existence as a country. Whether you call it restructuring, reforms, constitutional amendments or whatever nomenclature, you may wish to give it. The fact that this current arrangement is not working, is glaring to all of us. I am here not advocating the kind of jamboree, we had in recent past or the sort of circus, currently going on. There must be an sincere and genuine commitment to renegotiate;
We must develop a leadership system that is flows from bottom to the top. The current system cascade from the top to the bottom and that is why the big man syndrome, who oppress everyone at all times and who also feel that he is above all, including the law;
Our economy must be private sector driven. Government involvement should be in the agreed areas of regulations, control and standard. I support the removal of oil subsidy, though I believe, it has come rather late and brash. It should have been done as far back as 2011. It is in this context that I agree that the protest of 2012, was merely politically motivated.
Government should encourage more private sector investment in such areas as aviation, railway/train services, rail lines, road construction, education, production and distribution of fertilizers;
The powers of the central government should be reduced. Governance and administration should be decentralized. Our Presidency is too powerful and overstaffed. It is often said that we operate the most powerful Presidency in the world. For instance, I am unable to fathom what is the business of the Federal Government with the distribution of fertilizers to farmers;
There is also a need to unbundle so many Federal agencies/organs. For instance, what we have is a judiciary that is quasi unitary in nature, especially, the Appellate structure. In a Federal system, I see no reason why the various states, should not have their own appellate system. Two or more states, for the purpose of reducing costs, may combine to establish one. In this connection, not all appeals, will have to go the Federal Appeal Courts;
Arising from the above, there will therefore be a compelling need to amend most of our laws. Matters such as disputes arising from customary marriages, contract, land tenure system, ownership and title, will terminate at the relevant State Appellate levels. Only matters of constitutional importance and those strictly relating to the operations of the Federal Government, will get to the Federal Appeal Courts;
I am a strong advocate of State Police. The idea of having a centralized Police structure is not only ancient but also anachronistic in nature. It’s a relic of colonialism and which does not take cognisance of our peculiarity; and
Our electoral system or means of electing our leaders also need to be revisited and reformed. The current mode has failed to give the desired result.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the above suggestions are not exhaustive. As said earlier, I do not possess the competence, to give an all-encompassing view of the topic. I have only attempted to contribute my little quota to the national debate. I am grateful for the organizers of this programme for giving the platform.
