Momoh Umar Momoh, Benin
The Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs Maria Edeko has chronicled how bad governance contributed and fueled poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.
The Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker (PDP), representing Esan North- East II constituency in the House, opined that bad governance has been deeply entrenched in all sector of the nation’s economy.
Edeko expressed the opinion in her paper, “Abolition of All Forms of Poverty in Nigeria: Whose Task?” at a public lecture to celebrate the 70th birthday of Dr Osagie Obayuwana, the former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Edo State during the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
The public lecture was held at the Benin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the weekend in Benin City.
She listed some of the causes of poverty as bad governance, weak institutions, selection methods for electing political office holders and appointees, poor parenting of both elected and appointed political office holders, improper education among others.
She opined that anybody saddled with the responsibility of leaderships under the above factors cannot provide the basic necessities of life such as good healthcare, food, water and education to the electorate.
According to her, “The causes of all forms or dimensions of poverty is bad governance and at the base of bad governance is the weak institutions and selection method for electing those that govern us.
“The party structures that elect candidates for election are populated by unenlightened vulnerable persons.
“Other factors that cause bad governance are poor parenting of those that govern us, improper education where people receive an education such that their consciences are not moralised.
“They cannot enforce the rule of law, they will lack empathy, proper value, no principle, they cannot differentiate right from wrong, they become selfish, greedy and do not think of the common good”,she said.
She, however, called on professionals, human rights activists, religious leaders and all men of goodwill to join political parties and be part of those that elect those that govern us.
Edeko, a law lecturer in the University of Benin (UBTH) posited that when the religious leaders, professionals, human rights activists and men of goodwill fail to join politics, the country would continue to have bandits in power.
The lawmaker, also opined that the resources in the country at the moment are enough to provide a good life for Nigerians if only those in positions of authorities would make prudent use of them.
While stating that bad leaders have become bandits in the nation’s political space.
She also added that corruption has become the bane of insecurity, resulting in food shortages as farmers cannot go to their farms, and drug trafficking has become endemic due to bad governance.
“A population that consumes illicit drugs will become unproductive as the productive population will be destroyed.
“The mining sector that was hitherto neglected by the government, is now attracting criminal elements and terrorists to the country, exacerbating insecurity and a major driver of poverty.
“When you try to do the right thing, the public often resists. It feels like we are all complicit in this systemic conspiracy.
“But for this country to survive, we must be willing to stand for what is right, even if we stand alone.
“Many unemployed youths turn to armed robbery, kidnapping, internet fraud, and the sale of hard drugs.
“This reflects a failure of leadership and bad governance, and our inability to protect the productive population, the youths”,she added.
The PDP lawmaker, who eulogized the celebrant, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana on his 70th birthday noted that his life long dedication to defending the rights of ordinary Nigerians was a beacon of hope for others to emulate.
