U.S., Gowon, Tinubu, Others Seek Stronger Institutions For Sustainable Development

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U.S., Gowon, Tinubu, Others Seek Stronger Institutions For Sustainable Development

Eminent Nigerians at the weekend advocated the need to build strong
institutions as a means of achieving sustainable national development in
the country as against strong individuals.

Those who spoke at the maiden Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable organised as
part of activities to mark the 69th birthday of Oyo State Governor in
Ibadan, were former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), National
Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington and Mrs. Florence
Ajimobi.

Others were former Interim National Chairman of APC,
Bisi Akande, immediate past Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola,
Senate Majority Leader, Ahmed Lawan, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi
Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Kola
Daisi.

Speaking on The Imperatives of Building Institutions for Lasting
Legacies, they argued that while strong individuals were necessary for
visionary leadership, only strong institutions could enhance proactive
leadership, good governance, effectiveness of the rule of law and
citizens’ inclusiveness.

Gowon identified the civil service as one of the key institutions
that any government should strive to strengthen, noting, “Protecting the
integrity, confidentiality and impartiality of civil servants would
enable them to give political leaders the right advice.”

On his part, Tinubu, said while institutions are important, a leader
cannot be deemed to have succeeded, no matter how much he has achieved
in infrastructure renewal and other areas of development until he
develops people who could succeed him and nurture the institution that
he had built.

He declared that Ajimobi is a leader who demonstrated a combination
of thinking and doing, adding that he had exhibited the qualities of a
good leader, who had the courage of not only taking actions, but being
ready to face the consequences of his actions.

Speaking, Akande, who stressed the need to build strong institutions,
however, warned against what he described as the growing institution of
bullies who, he said, derive satisfaction in benefitting from the
public purse without providing commensurate value.

Responding, Aregbesola said one of the reasons why a former U.S.
President, Barack Obama shunned Nigeria and chose to visit Ghana during
his visit to Africa was due to lack of will to support the growth of
institutions.

Symington, who spoke through an amplified telephone call from Abuja,
said it was time for the people of Oyo State, development partners and
business associates to shift attention from sustainable development to
profitable development because without profits, development could not be
sustained.

He stressed that institutions do not have memories and reputations, but it is the leaders that drive them.

Source:- Guardianng

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