June 12: Kingibe says fairness, justice critical for equitable society

June 12: Kingibe says fairness, justice critical for equitable society

Democracy

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Abuja, June 12,2024(NAN)Amb. Babagana Kingibe, a a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has said that fairness and justice in governance at all levels is critical to an equatable society and equal opportunities for all.

Kingibe who was Chief MKO Abiola’s running mate in the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election on the then Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform said this at a dinner on Tuesday in Abuja.

The dinner which was organised by the Ministry of Youth Development to celebrate Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy.

The lecture was titled:”25 Years of Enduring Democracy: Prospects for the Future”.

Kingibe recalled that in his days, fairness and justice made it possible for children of the less privileged to obtain scholarships to study with children of the rich in same schools and excelled.

He noted that something however, went wrong when two generations back jettisoned the idea that all was entitled to equal opportunities and started looking after their own rather than opening up space for everybody.

“It was not an issue of godfatherism in my time: I was 36 years of age,when I became a career Ambassador, 40 when I became a Permanent Secretary and 48 when I was leading the SDP.

“The first thing youths of today should fight for is justice, fairness and equal opportunities,” Kingibe  said.

He stressed the need for mentorship if the younger generation must take over the country’s leadership from the older generation.

He noted that mentoring was lacking in the country’s political space as most youths struggle by themselves to find their ways to the top.

He said it was unfortunate that most of the older generation didn’t know when it was time to give way for the younger generation.

“We lost this mentorship, perhaps because we, my generation, decided to sit around government, we didn’t know when it is time to leave.

“I am very surprised, even now, the number of sectogenerians, near octogenarians who are working around with their CVs looking for political appointments, and I just shake my heads.

“It is time for us to rest, let us imitate nature, look at trees, when they come to the end of their lives, they drop seeds and fall to give way for the seeds to grow.

“We should imitate nature and know when to leave the stage,” the 78 years old Kingibe said.

He said the older generation barely understood today’s world because of the advanced changing technological world which they may not be conversant with.

He, however, expressed satisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration for giving youths opportunities in his government.

He said contrary to belief in some quarters, Nigerian youths had the energy and were ready to take over leadership, saying their time was now.

“Your time is now, do not allow any older person to patronise you by saying you are the leaders of tomorrow. See yourselves as leaders of now, ” he said.

He noted that like Tinubu, some older persons had the interest of youths at heart.

“President Tinubu is not a young man, but he has behaved as if he is one of you who got into office.He looked out for you and for your interest.

“And has given you representation and has digitalised governance , not analogue.

“Many may not understand some of the ideas he has and the direction he is going, but if you look ahead, you will see the destination he is in a going to.

“And by GOD’S grace, we will get there, so when you see an elder doing something to help,rally round him and support him and you will be surprised how much sooner we will get there” Kingibe said.

He said there was however need to review the Constitution to make it easy for youths to acquire political power.

He charged youths in government and positions of authority to always work and think for others to make them relevant to the society.

He further changed Nigerians to  work to grow the country’s democracy to maturity and make it better, saying there was no better system.

He noted that the lack of national coalition was one of the things pulling the country backwards, saying we must begin to see ourselves as one to change the narrative.

“Ones we begin to treat each other as brothers and as one people occupying this geopolitical space called Nigeria, we will get to the point when we think of our present and future as one,” Kingibe said.(NAN)

EEM/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

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