NAN-H-27
Institutions
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Dec. 11, 2016 (NAN) Sen. Soji Akanbi(APC-Oyo South) says Nigeria needs incorruptible institutions and disciplined followership to develop.
He spoke in Ibadan at a lecture organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Oyo State Council.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Akanbi, a patron of the union delivered a lecture entitled “Nigeria and the Quest for Credible Leadership.”
Akanbi stated that the nation needed to fight corruption to a minimal level and entrench high level of discipline among the governed for it to compete favourably with the developed nations.
“Our people too continue to sell their votes and they are requesting for credible leadership. I wonder how such will be achieved.
“We have to fight corruption, block leakages and strengthen our institutions to move forward,” he said.
The lawmaker also stated that the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the government must make sacrifices for the nation to move forward.
Akanbi said that he had been an advocate of reduction in the remuneration of public office holders, adding that this must be across board.
He said the challenge Nigeria was facing was that of failure of leadership, lamenting that there was no platform for any genius to excel in the country.
“The present government is a prudent one and you all can take President Muhammadu Buhari for his integrity. Buhari is leading by example, I am a witness to that.
“The present administration has done well in the area of fighting corruption and insecurity.
“You can see that judgements are now getting fairer in our courts as an aftermath effect of the sting operations on the residences of alleged corrupt judges,” he said.
Akanbi said that the nation’s problem needed strong political and democratic principles to tackle, adding that the economic indices was frightening.
He also said that a lot needed to be done in the area of economy, especially where monetary policies contradict economic indices.
“No serious investor will come into a country where local investors are running away except those with ulterior motives
“The problem is the issue of mono source of revenue in a country of over 200 million population. Our local investors needs to be encouraged,” he said.
The lawmaker said that there was opposition to devaluation because the International Monetary Fund would always want to devalue so as to buy goods and services at reduced prices.
Akanbi said that the CBN had opted for indirect devaluation believing that it might help, adding, however, that the situation was not getting better.
He said that there was nothing wrong in borrowing although several steps have to be taken to ensure good value for the loan.
Akanbi said: “How will a nation borrow to fund a system where 50 percent of the value of the money was already blown away?
“ Interest rate is also on a high side.’’
Speaking on constituency projects, Akanbi said that lawmakers could not access the fund although they could specify the needs and supervise the execution of such projects as representatives of the people.
The lawmaker urged journalists to ensure accurate and balanced reportage of events, saying the people needed to be more educated on the true process of governance.
Earlier, Mr Gbenga Opadotun, the Chairman of the council, had said that the programme was organised to educate the people and avail them the opportunity of relating with their representatives.
Opadotun, a two-term chairman of the council, stated that the programme was part of the union’s contributions to the development of the nation as agenda setters.(NAN)
TAA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)