Former Deputy Governors Decry Widening Disconnect Between Nigerian Leaders, Followers

The Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria (FFDGN) has held its fifth National Conference in Abuja, with a name for ethical re-engineering to bridge the widening hole between leaders and residents.

The convention, held on Tuesday in Abuja, introduced collectively former leaders, diplomats, captains of business, academia, ladies and youth teams {and professional} our bodies to interrogate Nigeria’s nation-building challenges.

In his welcome tackle, the National Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Chris Alozie Akomas, mentioned this 12 months’s theme, “Rethinking Nation-Building: Bridging the Leadership-Citizen Disconnect Through Orientation, Attitude, Character, Culture and Tradition for Sustainable Development,” cuts to the core of Nigeria’s existential wrestle.

According to him, there’s a critical and widening disconnect in any respect ranges between those that lead and those that are led, throughout authorities, establishments, society, neighborhood and household, including that no nation can develop when its folks really feel alienated.

Akomas burdened that insurance policies alone don’t rework a nation however folks do, and budgets alone don’t construct a society however character does, noting that legal guidelines and administrative reforms are inadequate with no return to Nigeria’s moral roots.

He known as for a twin dedication the place leaders embrace accountability and humility of stewardship, and residents rise because the conscience that rescues the nation, ranging from households, lecture rooms, spiritual centres and communities.

Also talking, the Director-General of the Forum, Hon. Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, mentioned the Forum has remained steadfast as a non-partisan strategic accomplice in advancing good governance, no matter political inclinations.

Ibe-Kalu mentioned the previous 4 editions of the convention had offered constant platforms for nationwide dialogue, specializing in resilience in 2022, partnership for sustainable growth in 2023, meals safety in 2024, and productive capability and innovation in 2025.

He mentioned this 12 months’s theme was chosen to deal with the alarming rise in leadership-citizen disconnect, stressing the necessity for civic training, celebration of rectitude and decisive motion in opposition to indiscipline.

In attendance have been the Forum’s Grand Patron, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Co-Chair of the occasion, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and different patrons and supporters of the FFDGN imaginative and prescient together with Chief Kanu Agabi, Obong Victor Attah, Chief Segun Osoba, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko and Dr. Abdullahi Umaru Ganduje.