RENOWNED jurist and former Chairman of the West African Bar Association (WABA), Femi Falana has called on the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to make the fixing of Nigeria’s economy his priority.

He also stressed the importance of embracing the rule of law for the nation to move forward while ensuring that those that bring shame to the country should not be allowed to go unpunished.

Falana, made the call as the Guest Speaker during the installation ceremony of Otunba Bola Onabadejo as the District Governor of Rotary International, District 9110 comprising Lagos and Ogun States for the Rotary Year 2015-2016, which took place at International Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the legal luminary, “God has made our country a gift to the world, but we have not made the best use of the opportunities given to us. Where some countries are disadvantaged with the problems of earthquake, flooding and other natural disasters, God gave Nigeria mineral resources with a favourable climate.

“It is therefore sad that despite our privileged position, our development has been nothing to talk about, our country messed up, with illiteracy still standing at 54%. Unemployment rate has been high with no sign of growth. It is disheartening that workers in many states have not been paid their wages for several months whereas the Bible says, labourers deserve their wages. The reason we are in this terrible mess is due to gross mismanagement,” Falana said.

The lawyer described as ‘sad’ the present state of Nigeria’s economy where $1 is now equivalent to N230.00.

He recalled that, even as dreadful as the draconian military ruler, General Sani Abacha’s administration was, he ensured that the Naira stayed at $1 to N84.00. This, he said, Abacha was able to achieve because he took the challenge of the economy as his priority. He ensured that patriots and not traders were his economic advisers.

Falana lamented the situation whereby several youths including graduates have become motorcycle (okada) riders because successive administrations have played down the importance of agriculture and education in lifting the economy.

He warned about the consequence of this negligence that unless this administration imbibe the ideals of the Rotary International by serving the less privileged and the poor in the society, the hoodlums that have joined these okada riders would continue to be the thorn in the flesh of the nation by attacking innocent souls. Falana advised leadership in the nation to look away from oil as the only survival of the country and go back to basis.

Falana, who commended the administration of Buhari over his vow to tackle corruption, unemployment and the issue of security in the country, however, remarked that these might not be achieved without first succinctly addressing the challenge of economy in the nation.

Falana, while congratulating Onabadejo, lauded the ideals of the 4-Way Test of the club, adding that if the nation has members of the Club in governance, the country would be better for it.

“If all public officers in Nigeria adopt the 4-Way Test and apply each of these tests in carrying out their policies, Nigeria will definitely stand tall among other nations.

“Rotary International has consistently addressed the need of the poor and the disadvantaged in various communities and it would be unimaginable the millions that would have died of diseases if the club has not risen to tackle these problems. This is where Rotary becomes very relevant,” he said.

Falana, who described it a ‘tragedy’ some uneducated politicians holding sensitive positions in the country, including the nation’s assembly, remarked that if Nigerians allow ‘fools’ to make their laws, they would be administered by fools.

“We need professionals as politicians and we should always challenge them with the Rotary 4-Way Test and where they fail, we should disown them and this call is extended to Churches and traditional institutions” he said.

Onabadejo in his acceptance speech promised to work in tandem with the theme for the Rotary year: “Be a gift to the world”.
“We are dedicating ourselves to service this year and to be a gift to humanity. Life will not continue forever and whatever good we can do, we should do it now.

The District Governor said he had three main areas of focus in addition to other areas which include membership development to a minimum of 3,000, increasing club membership from 82 to 110, secondly, to contribute to the Rotary Foundation which is the heartbeat of Rotary International and thirdly to eradicate polio which is near extinction in Nigeria.

At the event were prominent Nigerians including the past District Governors, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, past presidents of Rotary Clubs including G.N. Patel, Dr. Alex Thomopulos, Ramesh Biswal, among others.