Former deputy governors move to bridge leadership-citizen gap

From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

The Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria has moved to address the widening gap between leaders and citizens, blaming the breakdown of family and societal values for some of the country’s social challenges.

Chairman of the Forum, Dr Chris Akomas, disclosed this in Abuja after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which reviewed preparations for the Forum’s 2026 annual national conference.

The conference, scheduled for October 20 and 21, will focus on the theme, “Rethinking Nation Building: Bridging the Leadership-Citizen Disconnect through Orientation, Attitude, Character, Culture and Tradition Towards Sustainable Development.”

Akomas said the conference would examine the disconnect between leadership and citizens, stressing that the problem extended beyond government and the governed to families, communities and other aspects of national life.

He expressed concern over rising drug abuse and addiction, the poor application of education and skills, and the growing desire among some young people to make quick money, describing them as signs of deeper societal problems.

The former deputy governor called for stronger family bonds and greater parental responsibility, urging parents to devote more time to their children, share meals with them and provide the guidance needed to build responsible adults.

According to him, bridging the disconnect requires Nigerians to recognise their responsibilities to one another and the wider society rather than living solely for themselves.

Also speaking, former Plateau State Deputy Governor and ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, urged mothers to take a more active role in restoring family values and raising responsible children.

Tallen described mothers as the heart of the home and called on them to work with their husbands to ensure proper upbringing and guidance for their children.

She stressed that children represent Nigeria’s future and urged parents to raise a generation capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Forum’s Board of Trustees, Mr Abdulmalik Mahmood, said the conference would bring together distinguished Nigerians to examine the country’s past, present and future.

Mahmood described the disconnect in Nigeria’s polity, leadership and governance as a major challenge, adding that the Forum would use the conference to interrogate the issues and present its position to Nigerians and the government.