Only accountability, good governance can earn Nigeria global respect, says Adefabi

The Provost of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Nigeria, Dr. Rasak Adetunji Adefabi, has charged Nigerian leaders to be more accountable, show greater respect for the rule of law and promote judicial independence for the country to earn its place of pride in the comity of nations. 
 

Dr Adelabi lamented the inability of both civilian and military leaders who had ruled the country to give account of their stewardship during and after their tenures, blaming this on low level of political consciousness, legislative ineptitude, illiteracy, ethnicity and religious bigotry. 
 

To end this ugly situation, the provost challenged those currently in position of leadership, as well as those aspiring for one in future to always embrace ideals of democracy anchored on responsiveness, responsibility and transparency.
 

While making the statement in a lead paper presented on “Leadership And Accountability In Nigeria,” at the 11th Annual National Conference of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo chaired by a former deputy provost, Dr. Gboyega Ajayi. 
 

He charged Nigerians to show more interest in governance and emulate those in developed countries like America, Britain, France and Germany “by holding public officers accountable for their actions, through demand for accountability.”
 

The educationist, who was represented by a former
Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Ashiru Tajudeen, stated that the
“willingness and readiness to account for one’s actions while in
office is vital to sustenance of good governance and development of any nation.”
 

He encouraged voters to always exercise their power of vertical
accountability during elections to express or withdraw their
confidence in public office holders by readiness to renew or reject their mandate, while the government should give power of horizontal accountability to some of its agencies to curb abuse of office by government officials.