The Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Sam Adeyemi, has joined the league of Nigerians expressing skepticism over the success of the national conference being proposed by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Adeyemi, who is the host of the popular programme, Success Power, which airs on radio and television stations within and outside the country, says he doubts if the outcome of the conference will see the light of the day.
In a series of tweets, the motivational speaker says the antecedents of the government in handling previous conferences “raise doubts as to the implementation of the outcomes of this conference, if any.”
He laments the “utter wretchedness” and worsening living conditions being faced by many Nigerians, saying the situation does not necessarily require the convocation of a national conference for it to improve. He therefore accused the ruling class of “governing the nation without conscience.”
The cleric, who notes via his Twitter handle that he has been drawing inspirations from a book entitled “Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty,” says the Federal Government should ensure the “evolving of institutions that will ensure prosperity of the citizenry.”
He says, “Nigeria’s government is taking steps towards organising a national conference now. This gives cause for cheer, but there are questions on my mind. Do we need a national conference to build good roads, schools and hospitals etc?
“Sadly, I have seen utter wretchedness in the living conditions of Nigerians in recent times. Will the Nigerian elite class have enough conscience to create a Nigeria where all citizens can equally prosper? It doesn’t matter whether they are military or civilian, or belong to different political parties. Will this elite class, which has frustrated previous conferences and annulled elections, execute our decisions this time?
“Will the outcomes of this conference, if any, ever become a reality? Is there a way for citizens to shift the balance of power so they have control over the politicians? Or should we encourage the conference to hold and pray that God should hijack the direction somehow?
“Do all constituent parts of Nigeria really want development to happen? Many questions on my mind.”
Adeyemi says it is unfair for a “small elite group” to take charge of political power and use such to control the economy to benefit themselves. He asks political leaders to rule with conscience, adding that the Federal Government should learn a lesson or two from the developmental policies of the United Arab Emirate and England.
Continuing, he notes, “Most countries that have developed did so by evolving inclusive institutions and policies that make prosperity possible for all citizens. So, citizens have control over the elite that control the economy.
“England changed when parliament whittled down the power of the monarchy and created policies to empower citizens to prosper. The Industrial Revolution followed through innovation by citizens. Dubai, which runs a monarchy, has transformed because the elite have a conscience.”
He urges the Nigerian masses to make use of the sanctity of the ballot to kick out inept and bad leaders, and to also make the political class to be in tune with the yearnings of the populace.
Adeyemi asks, “Does the Nigerian populace have the enlightenment and gut to whip the political class into line when the elections come? Is there a way for citizens to shift the balance of power so they have control over the politicians?”
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have aligned themselves with his line of argument. Those in this group say the past recommendations of previous conferences would suffice, rather than expending scarce resources on another round of conference.
“Each previous leader who organised such conferences got useful recommendations for Nigeria’s future, but they failed to use them. Nigerians have been talking, only that no one is doing the listening. Our problem has nothing to do with a dialogue. We’ve had many of such,” political blogger, Japheth Omojuwa, writes on his Twitter handle.
Another Twitter user, Taiwo Adebayo, believes that the best the Goodluck Jonathan administration could do for the masses is to deliver on good governance. She blamed the plight of the masses on growing influence of the elite whom she said were being recycled in the corridors of power.
Adebayo writes, “First, if you are part of the masses that believe Jonathan is doing well, it might be that you are part of the country’s problem. First, for the past three and a half years, this country has been on autopilot — no new concept to governance, just same old people recycling themselves and piling up massive wealth that will never satisfy their insatiable greed.”
But a cross section of Nigerians still believes the national conference is a step in the right direction. In a tweet to Adeyemi, a Twitter user, Olufemi Kunnu, disagrees with him, saying the national dialogue remains the best way the citizenry could make their expectations about the polity known to government.
“You may lose when you contest in an election, but you can never lose when you dialogue. The national conference should hold!” Kunnu states.
punch
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