Justice Issa Garba, of the Kwara State High Court has advocated for a national ethical re-orientation of the Nigerian citizenry to maintain peaceful coexistence devoid of rancor and promote national development.
Garba, stated this while presenting a paper entitled: “Ethical Re-orientation: Panacea For Good Governance and Development” at the 13th National Honours Programme of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) held in Ilorin.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to join together as harmonious citizens of the country devoted to maintain peaceful coexistence.
He noted that, with the current economic woes and insecurity bedeviling our country, adequate measures have to be put in place to make our country stable and great again.
According to him, ethical re-orientation of the Nigerian citizenry is required if the country is desirous of national development.
“The healing stream of our past mistakes as a nation that led to Civil war as attributed to our past heroes and leaders is still troubling and rearing its ugly head.
“As followers of such leaders still trade abusive and dangerous words reflecting and promoting the circumstances that culminated into such ethnic civil war.
“If such unethical attitude continues, it indeed portends danger to our corporate existence as a nation,” he said.
He opined that able and willing retirees and military veterans with required mental and physical ability should not be dumped but be made relevant by consulting them in the formulation of critical ethical policies and the running of governmental affairs.
“Tapping from their rich experiences, could be of benefit to the development and security maintenance of the country.
“Better performance from leaders could earn followers better chances, engagement of stakeholders to express themselves on solutions to challenges militating against development and progress of our society is desirable.
“The various ethical institutions in the country should work harder towards maintaining an enviable ethical standard,” he advised.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Abdullfattah Olanlege, the National President of UNIFEMGA posits that the theme of the programme was apt.
He advised Nigerians to turn over a new leaf across board from the rulers to the ruled.
“We encourage everyone to take active interest in the journey by ensuring that they collect their PVCs and encourage everyone around them to do and vote for credible candidates from president to the least post as they have crucial roles in deciding the direction at which the nation is heading to,” said Olanlege.
Hightligt of the programme was awards conferred on Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin.
Others are; Prof. Abdulhakeem Lasisi, Vice Chancellor of the newly established Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, Osun State; as well as the current Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Olaniyi Yusuf.