Nation Building: Leaders and followers need to be patriotic- Onofiok Luke

Luke stated this at the first virtual conference of Initiative for Gobal Transformation, a nation building initiative focused on national transformation with the theme: Reimagine Nigeria Conceptualizing the Nigeria of Our Dreams. Delivering a paper on: Reimagine Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects, said he wishes for a better country.

"I have found out two clear areas that we must address. In addressing these two areas we sure will move closer to the country we are looking for"

"The very first part we have been able to identify is in the area of leadership . Another one is that we have challenge in the area of economy. And if we get our economy and we get the leadership right , I believe that we can move further to have a transformed country where we can realise our dreams, yearnings and aspirations".

"Leadership and followership is one area we need to work on. I have seen the effect of wrong attitude of the followers rub off on the leadership. Because the leadership tend to act according to what the followers say" . Luke said

The Lawmaker sued for the leadership and followership in the country to demonstrate patriotism.

"Number one thing we need to do right, is patriotism. Whether you are leader, you have to be patriotic in what you are doing. And as a follower you have to be patriotic. Patriotism looks beyond clannish tendencies, parochialism. If you have your brother who is the Governor or your brother who is in the House of Representatives and he does not act right, patriotism demands that you speak out and correct him not only him. If he is a thief, don't say he is our thief because he comes from my own community".

"We have to be patriotic in followership just like we have to be patriotic in leadership. Patriotic in the sense that we put the interest of the country and interest of the people". Luke added.

He recounted how the love for ones nation and putting people first has driven Singapore from a third world country to a first world country that can be seen today.

"The other one is the right and positive thinking. We have to hold our leaders accountable . We need to change the indices upon which we use to assess our leaders. Our leaders should exhibit purposeful, honest and sincere leadership. Their names will stay forever ".

"Take for instance the man who had the opportunity to rule this country, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Today Nigeria still talks about him. Why? He came in and accepted that even the process that brought him to office was flawed . And then he started an advocacy, canvassing for some changes in the electoral processes for this country. No matter how short the period he ruled, today Nigerians still see him as one of the best if not the best President in the fourth Republic".

"For us to get Nigeria to where we ought to, there has to be a strong economy. If we don't have the economy, we don't have economic power, individuals do not have the economic power , we answer yes Sir to everything ".

"When we have a greater economy , where Nigerians can go about their businesses and make out their living not depending on government patronage, then we would have political leaders, traditional leaders, religious leaders standing their grounds to state the truth".

"For us to have a transformed Nigeria, we have to keep food on the tables of Nigerians . And what can bring that is the development of the agricultural sector to ensure self sufficiency in agro and agro allied needs of the Nigerian nation". Luke further stated.

To have a good private sector . So that investors can have confidence in the economy for them to invest, Luke called for the enforcement of regulations in the power sector for efficiency in the power supply chain from generation to distribution to enable growth in the manufacturing sector.

"We have our border lines, coastal lines, maritime sector lying undeveloped . For example we have the Apapa gridlock but because of sentimental politics, we've not allowed port development in other places"

"Under the leadership of my Governor, governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, we have made a proposal for Ibom deep Seaport, which has a natural draught that will help decongest the traffic in Apapa in Lagos. But because of the fear of probably one thing or the other , there has been a level of lockdown on the release of licence by the Federal Government to the Akwa Ibom State government for the operation of that Ibom deep Seaport". Luke said.

He called for the decentralization of the maritime to enable the development of commercial activities along the gulf of Guinea , that is Niger Delta coastal line to stimulate commerce and international trade.

Proffering solutions to the challenges that confront the country, he said that there is need to invest in Information and Ccommunication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and development of skilled manpower in ICT, strengthening the security infrastructure to secure lives and protection of investment, carry out judicial reforms towards a more responsive conflict resolution mechanism and there has to be devolution of powers and constitutional reforms without thinking as to which area of the country is going to be affected, provided the interest of Nigeria is paramount.

Other discussants who participated in the conference were clergy Juliet Binitie, Founder/President Precious Jewel Ministry, Solomon Jere, Zambia Ambassador to Nigeria, Joachim Okhai, CEO at Okhai & Okhai Oil, Gas and Marine Services Nigeria Limited, Francis Adebayo 2019 Governorship Candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria in Lagos State.