Effective leadership’ll curb unhealthy inter-ethnic, inter-sectional relations –Don
By Sunday Ani
Prof. Abdur-Rahman Olayiwola of the Lagos State University (LASU) has identified effective leadership as a potent antidote to curb unhealthy inter-ethnic relations, as well as inter-sectional and inter-religious disharmony.
The professor of Political Science argued that Nigeria would stop being plagued by ethnic, religious, regional identities and socio-political and economic crises if the leadership is responsible to the people.
Prof. Olayiwola who is the pioneer Head of the Department of Political Science in LASU, made the remarks at the university’s 98th inaugural lecture held at the main campus in Ojo, Lagos.
In his lecture titled, ‘Political communication and political complications in Nigeria: Analysis and action,’ Prof. Olayiwola noted that for Nigeria to ensure political stability, the government should not only re-emphasise the secularity of the country but should also take steps to convince all that the country is far from being a quasi-theoretic set-up.
He explained that the eradication of poverty would supplement and complement political communication to combat political complications, adding that the intensity and pervasiveness of political complications in Nigeria were potential threats to democracy.
He added. “A full scale war must be launched against poverty in Nigeria. Poverty has placed millions of Nigerians on edge psychologically and any little quarrel which under a better socio-economic milieu wouldn’t have caused any political complications, gives rise to configuration.
“If political complications have to be discouraged and the goals of national integration and development have to be realised, then sections 41 (1) and 42 (2) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution have to be enforced and made justifiable. “Political communication can solve the problem of political complications perpetrated and precipitated by insecurity. Security is development and without development, there can be no security.”
