The Alumni Association of National Institute (AANI) has described as “unfortunate’’ the outcome of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s (NGF) election.
The National President of the alumni, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd) expressed the association’s position at a media dinner with editors and senior journalists on Monday in Abuja.
He said that the outcome of the NGF’s election “is a setback for the democratic process.
“Indeed, the incident that characterised the elections of Nigeria Governors’ Forum deeply saddened AANI.
“We strongly condemn the incident and wish to call on the governors to immediately put their house in order and refrain from any action that may threaten our collective unity.
‘’We, therefore, advise our leaders at all levels that the contestations as good as they are, the ultimate remains public welfare and unity of Nigeria.
“Contestations must also go hand in hand with cooperation.’’
Onoja advocated for refresher leadership course at the National Institute for Strategic Studies for all the 36 state governors in the country.
He said that such a course would enhance their capacity and broaden their patriotic national outlook.
“All the game plans for 2015 should give way to good governance in 2013.
“We need all hands to be on deck to address critical challenges facing the country today to be sure of a country in 2013.’’
The AANI president, however, applauded Nigerians for keeping faith with democracy for more a decade, adding that with the feat achieved so far, ‘’Nigeria has become a democracy destination’’.
He expressed the confidence of the association in the unity of the country irrespective of religious, cultural, political and ethnic affiliations.
Onoja restated the commitment of the association to continue to partner with the federal, state and local governments for a better country and applauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.
He said that the transformation Agenda, when properly implemented, would make Nigeria one of the leading 20 industrialised economies of the world by 2020.
He specifically applauded the Jonathan administration for investing massively in agriculture, housing, construction, manufacturing, aviation, power, roads, rail, solid minerals and the Information and Communication Technology.
Onoja also lauded the Federal Government for declaring a state of emergency in three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe as part of measures to curb the insurgency in some of the North.
The dinner was attended by the Secretary-General of the association, Comrade Issa Aremu.
The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), which was established in 1979, has graduated more than 1, 560 participants.
