Fashola says Nigeria’s problems are surmountable

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Tuesday said that the problems facing Nigeria were surmountable and called on all citizens to join hands to reposition the country.
Fashola spoke in Lagos at the public presentation of “The Cable”, an online newspaper owned by Mr Simon Kolawole, a former editor of ThisDay Newspapers.
He said that the public sector would fare well if it benefited more from the quality of human resources in the private sector.
The governor urged private sector professionals to aspire to leadership positions in the public service and use their experience for the nation’s development.
Fashola also restated that the power to entrench good leadership lay with the electorate.
“We talk of bad leadership but can we free ourselves of the blame? How do these so-called bad leaders get to their offices?
“Did we vote for them? If we agree that they get there on their own, that means we don’t vote during elections.
“And if we don’t vote during elections, how do we expect to get the
kind of leaders we want?’’ he said.
He charged potentially good leaders to participate in politics and also urged the electorate to shun voter apathy during elections.
Also speaking, a former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, who chaired the occasion, urged Nigerians to work hard to build the country.
Abubakar said rather than complaining about the problems or blaming one another, Nigerians should come together to proffer solutions.
“All of us as Nigerians have the duty to join hands in fighting these challenges.
“If Nigeria is safe and secure and the quality of life in the country improves, it is to the benefit of the nation and the citizens,’’ he said.
Sen. Chris Anyanwu, in her contribution, urged Nigerians not to always expect leaders or politicians to solve the nation’s problems.
“We should shun divisive sentiments and build a virile country where anybody can be anything, regardless where they come from,’’ she said.
The Managing Director, Channels Television, Mr John Momoh, said Nigeria had great potential, urging citizens to believe in the country’s future prosperity.
Momoh said it would require great patriotism and contributions of citizens to propel the country to become one of the greatest nations of the world.
Speaking on the on-line newspaper, Kolawale said the idea was conceived to make news dissemination faster and more accessible.
He said the medium would serve about 60 million Internet users in Nigeria with news updates around the world. (NAN)