Tinubu journeys towards welfarism but can’t travel alone, says Olurode

School uses Bisi Akande’s, Wale Oshun’s books to mark June 12

A former National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Lai Olurode, yesterday, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had started the journey towards welfarism but could not travel alone.

Olurode said this during a public reading and understanding session to commemorate the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election organised by The Wings Schools in Iwo, Osun State.

Two books, “My Participations” by former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande and “Clapping with One Hand” by former Secretary General of National Coalition for Democracy (NADECO) and current Chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Olawale Oshun, which extensively focused on the annulled June 12 election, were selected for reading and understanding competition.

Seven secondary schools participated in the competition. The Lead Reader at the event was the Librarian of Federal College of Education, Iwo, Dr. (Mrs.) Deborah Funmi Iyanda, while Justice Jide Falola of the High Court of Osun State was the second Lead Reader.

The occasion was chaired by Dr. (Mrs.) Olori Iyabo Lamuye. Olurode, who stated that in the days of the military, freedom was indeed criminalised, urged Nigerians to be patient with the snail speed at which democracy travels or abuse of power that had been witnessed in Nigeria.

“There is no doubt that Nigeria is not where it should be. There are a lot of imperfections and unpardonable abuse of discretionary power of state actors, but we must not gloss over positive signs that signal the coming of good governance.

In his lecture, the Guest Lecturer, Isiaka Ayinla, a one-time Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), who traced the history of political struggle in Nigeria, was rhetorical, saying: “Has Nigeria arrived at its destination under the current democracy?

Also, Iyanda, in her speech, lamented the poor reading culture among youths. According to her, reading helps to inform, enhance imaginative thoughts, educate, kill boredom, increase self-confidence, build self-image and loneliness.

In his own contributions, Falola advised participants to know something about everything in life whether or not related to their field. He emphasised the importance of diction, oratorical skill and pronunciation. He said that without paying attention to meanings of what is read, justice could not be dispensed at any level.