Politics
Experts Want More Professionals In Politics
Experts in the built industry under the aegis of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) have called for greater political participation by professionals in order to avoid leaving crucial leadership decision-making in the hands of quacks and charlatans.
National President, NIQS, Olayemi Shonubi, stated this at the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Lagos State Chapter’s 14th Distinguished Lecture Series with theme, “Professionals in Partisan Politics: Appraising their Roles in Envisioning Economic Growth and Development of Nigeria,” held in Lagos .
Shonubi said it was important for professionals to get involved in partisan politics to ensure that the intellectual extraction of the population was not left to take the backseat while certain unscrupulous elements ran the country aground.
According to him, too much emphasis has been placed on the central government in recent times. This, he said, had come at the expense of grassroots governance, which was crucially important for any society.
“The choice of this theme is quite apt. Sitting here, we all know we are now going into the campaigns. The elections are coming up in 2023, and there is this conception that professionals should not see politics as professional, other than something on the side.
“It’s about time we began to discuss how to take back the governance of our country from those charlatans who parade themselves as politicians, who have no ideas, whose interest is more about themselves than the common good.
“So, I want us to listen carefully to the speakers and discussants as they come up with their own views on how the professionals should craft policies that will make the economy, how we can participate in politics, how we can begin to challenge those who now are in leadership positions”, he said.
In his keynote address, a human rights activist and senior lawyer, Femi Falana, charged estate surveyors to encourage their members to follow in the footsteps of progenitors like Herbert Macaulay, who became major players in Nigeria’s political scene.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said while Nigeria’s independence was largely masterminded by seasoned professionals like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Anthony Enahoro, Obafemi Awolowo and their contemporaries, professionals of today had sadly distanced themselves from partisan politics, leaving room for abuse of political power by our political leaders.
Falana said, “A few years back, I did challenge you (surveyors) to get involved in the affairs of our country and the built industry. Unfortunately, you haven’t taken up that challenge. The President was talking about charlatans in politics. We also have charlatans in the building industry.
“Last year, I did when we had the disaster of the 21-storey building in Lagos. Your institute came out after the fact, as lawyers would say, after the disaster had occurred and criticised a system that does not involve competent professionals in the built industry.
“I did agree with you on that occasion, but I asked a question, when you know that these buildings are springing up, and this particular building initially, it was meant to be a four-storey building, it became six, it became 12, it became 14 and then rose to 21, is it not in your interest as an association to cry out and report quacks and charlatans to the police so that the law can take its course?”
Mr Rhodes-Vivour expressed concern over the development, saying a dangerous precedent was being set.
He said: “What we witnessed at the House of Assembly represents a troubling pattern where might is increasingly valued over right. This forceful seizure of the legislative chambers undermines the very foundations of our democracy and sends a disturbing message about how power is wielded in our state.”
Mr Rhodes-Vivour criticised the ruling party in Lagos, accusing it of systematically promoting thuggery and violence over ideas.
He argued that such actions have eroded public trust in governance and weakened democratic values that should preserve the rule of law.
He said: “For too long, Lagos politics has been defined by intimidation rather than inspiration, by coercion rather than conviction. The ruling party has consistently demonstrated a willingness to use force to have its way notwithstanding the popular will of the people.”
Mr Rhodes-Vivour urged Lagosians to take the current crisis as a wake-up call ahead of future elections, saying voters should prioritise candidates who demonstrate character, competence and compassion regardless of party affiliation.
“The quality of our democracy depends entirely on the quality of individuals we elect to represent us. Lagosians deserve leaders who view public office as a sacred trust rather than a platform for personal aggrandizement”, he said.
In a statement, signed by its spokesman, Mr Chika Adiele, the group warned that the judiciary would be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Rivers State.
They expressed shock over the verdict, warning that it could disrupt the peace and development efforts of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the pan-Niger Delta Youths Empowerment Forum, under the leadership of Comrade Maobu Nangi Obu, has been drawn to the shocking verdict of the Supreme Court of Nigeria ordering seizure of Rivers State’s allocation. This is nothing short of economic sabotage against Rivers people.
“The apex Niger Delta youths body is dismayed by the infantile antics of anti-democratic forces whose stock in trade is brewing crisis in a bid to topple the people’s Governor. We firmly condemn this judgement as it is against the tenet of the constitution of Nigeria.
“It is an invitation to war and against equity, justice, and fair play. We equally condemn the order nullifying the local government election as reckless and vindictive.
“Unfortunately, the justices of the Supreme Court positioned themselves as a party to the suit rather than impartial arbiters of justice.”
They urged Nigerians to note that the principle of democracy is rooted in sound constitutional pronouncements with a view to establishing justice. “Therefore, any attempt by the enemies of Rivers people to seize power by judicial fiat will be resisted by the Niger Delta youths.
“We cannot be cowed, neither shall we lay in surrender at the altar of political manipulations of rascals. We reiterate boldly, once again, that anyone, no matter how highly placed, will face fierce resistance by the majority of Rivers people,” they said.
Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, has appealed to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, to withdraw her suit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Speaking during a live television interview on Saturday, Senator Olujimi said she does not want women to “look emotionally unstable”.
On February 20, Senator Akpabio, the senate president, and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged in a heated debate during plenary over a change in seating arrangements.
On February 25, the senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review.
However, the Kogi senator filed a N100 billion defamation suit against Senator Akpabio over an alleged defamatory statement reportedly made by the senate president’s legislative aide.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan later alleged that her trouble in the senate began after she rejected sexual advances from Senator Akpabio.
Reacting to the development, Senator Olujimi said a senator cannot speak outside the assigned seat according to the senate rule.
The former lawmaker said the request of the Kogi senator that her senate probe proceedings should be broadcast live was a “little overboard.”
She added that the clash between the senate president and Akpoti-Uduaghan should not have been escalated, noting that the change in seating arrangements is a normal phenomenon in the red chamber.
The former senate minority leader expressed support for the probe of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “weighty” allegations against Senator Akpabio.
She said Senator Akpabio is someone who jokes a lot, adding that the senate president usually made fun of everything.
“I want to say that in the 8th and 9th senate, we never had anything like that (referring to the allegations), and Senator Akpabio was one of us.
“They treated us (female senators) with decorum. We did not have anything like that, and I have not heard anything of such from any other of the remaining senators.
“It is tough for me to be able to take that without proper investigation. There should be an investigation.
“He (Akpabio) jokes a lot. He is fond of making little fun out of everything. He loves to make everything light; when you do that, you become very vulnerable.
“I saw all that they (referring to male senators) went through as men when I was there. They were all victimised by people from outside. I had to rescue them all of the time.
“The court case, I want to appeal to her to take the case out of court. We don’t want women to look like they are emotionally unstable.
“We need to also be strong enough to face the men. Going to court against a presiding officer is not on. I know she is hurt, but she needs to handle it in a better way. I think that should get out of court as fast as possible”, Senator Olujimi said.