Obi advises African leaders on way forward, canvasses need for paradigm shift

Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on African leaders to look inwards for the solutions to Africa’s problems.
Obi gave the advice on Thursday while speaking at the Inaugural Lecture of Kukah Centre at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
The former governor blamed African leaders for the problems facing the continent.
He said it was high time African elected as their leaders, tested hands that would become resource creators and managers rather than those who, due to lack of experience, were easily overwhelmed by the offices they are elected into.
Thanking the Kukah Centre for such engagement as provided by the lecture, said that more of that were needed as part of efforts to deepen democracy.
He, however, said that such fora should go a step forward in measuring leaders’ achievements as a way of making sure that they are not reduced to mere talk shows.
Obi also commended former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and the President of Ghana, Nana Akufor-Addo, for being part of the event.
Meanwhile, Obi said that there was need for paradigm shift in conversation, values and governance, if Nigeria is to get the desired positive change.
He spoke on Saturday in Lagos, during a conference organised by The Potters House of Lagos (TPHOL) with the theme: “Paradigm Shift’’.
The Potters House of Lagos, one of the expressions of House of Freedom (HOF) led by Mr Tony Rapu, is committed to building wholesome individuals, families, communities and society.
Obi described paradigm shift as a fundamental change from usual or acceptable way of doing things for something positive to be achieved.
He said: “The problem of Nigeria is not going to be solved by prayers only, but by Nigerians; we must bring back sanity to the system.
“The first shift has to start with our way of thinking; there also has to be paradigm shift in the things we value and celebrate.
“We must start celebrating feats, visible achievements , researches, heroic humanitarian acts and not fame, money or ‘eye service’.
“The greatest tragedy of ills in the society are us because we are the ones that allow them to go on; we have to change our way of evaluation,’’ Obi said.
The former governor said Nigerians were docile, which gave room for a lot of impunity to thrive.
“Complacency is hurting the country; it is time to tell our politicians to do things differently, and so we need to bring people to be accountable to their promises and duties.
“We need human conscience to pilot the affairs of our state; people who can create wealth, save money, take care of the citizens without being biased and selfish.
“We should task them to ensure that campaigns are issues-based and so we should begin to engage them in conversations.
“We need to know those that want to vie for positions and their capacity; it is only when we have the willpower to enforce and ensure these that we can begin to notice positive changes,’’ Obi said.
Mr Abeke Orhonor, Resident Pastor of The Potter’s House of Lagos, said the whole idea of the conference was to get people involved, especially in governance.
“Politics and governance are integral to our lives, so we have to be involved because once the citizens are passive, people will get away with anything.
“A lot of times, information is available and we don’t go for them.
“We are also not investing our information timing on the things we should, to check what is happening in our country, especially when it comes to governance.
“So, there is need for everyone to be involved, in your communities, organisations, churches, mosques, don’t stay aloof,’’ Orhonor said.
Mr Debola Williams, Owner of Statecraft Inc., and Co-Founder and CEO of Red, said it was time to raise a generation of fearless people in Nigeria.
Williams, represented by Mr Chude Jideonwo, Co-Founder and Managing partner of the organisation, said, “In the Bible, Quran and other religious books too, it had been noted that people who changed the world were people who were fearless.
“If you are fearless, you begin to see the world in a fundamentally different way and that is the only way you can have a paradigm shift,’’ he said.
Mr Poju Oyemade, Founder and Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos, urged young people to get involved and channel their skills positively into politics.
Oyemade advised Nigerian youths to be better informed and exposed, get more education and take advantage of the social media in strategic and positive ways.