The federal government has been advised to consider new models of norms, values, structures and institutions to ease the challenges facing the country in its nation-building drive.
Chief Anthony Idigbe, a senior advocate gave the advice while delivering the first convocation lecture of Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State.
Speaking on the topic ‘Social re-engineering, justice and ethical reorientation as a panacea for Nigeria’s quest for national integration’, Idigbe said identifying social deficiencies at different levels and sectors in the country is easy but the solutions require innovating, rethinking and redesigning the internal operation of the polity and economy with new ideas and norms that optimise human and natural resources.
The guest speaker, who noted that a lack of visionary leaders in critical spheres of life has increased corruption and bribery in the country, also said multiculturalism, ethnicity and religion have led to disunity in the nation’s leadership.
“There is no core Nigerian culture that cuts across the various groupings. Instead, some groups seem bent on imposing their culture, religion and identity on others and vice versa. The result has been impunity in violating the rule of law, escalating divisiveness and insecurity,” he said.
Idigbe pointed out that part of the problem is the absence of a critical mass of norm entrepreneurs who can change the narrative and develop new ideas, norms and values that would drive social interaction among the different groups in the country.
He said: ” A significant question today is, should we keep blaming the colonial era, or do we look internally to find solutions to our problems? While it is easy to blame the colonial government, recent histories, including the 2033 general elections, have revealed that the political elites have exploited ethnicity for personal gains and completed for power without base value. As a result, there has been some brazen abuse of power, disregard for the rule of law, sectionalism, and cried of domination by a particular political elites with religious and sectional connotations.”
Idigbe said the new models should encompass political, economic and social justice in the country.
He called for the enthronement of the rule of law and a constitutional arrangement that does not perpetuate inequalities and injustice, saying these are crucial to national integration.
The lawyer stressed that government must adopt policies and programmes that promote education, employment and economic development in underrepresented or marginalised communities.
Vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Olatunji Oyelana, said there are social dislocations and political upheavals in the country hence the urgent need for solutions.
Chairman of the occasion and Executive Secretary, of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Adamu Rasheed, represented by the Director, of Academic Planning, NUC, Dr Noel Saliu, felicitated with the institution on its first convocation ceremony and lecture, calling for more private sector involvement in the education sector to accelerate development.
