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From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The National President of the Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA), Prof. Hassan Saliu, has said that the security challenges and high rate of poverty in the country are the price of being insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians for many years.
Saliu said this in Nsukka on Thursday in a remark during the NPSA’s 12th annual conference held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), with the theme “Building Sustainable Peace, Security and Development: Challenges and Opportunities.”
He said that injustice, insensitivity and lack of inclusiveness are bedrocks of insecurity and other challenges bedevilling the nation.
“It’s unfortunate that under democratic rule, citizens’ concerns are not the main concerns of democratic actors.
“Poverty has been weaponised to make citizens susceptible to receiving handouts from politicians before voting for them during elections.
“Unfortunately as the number of years spent in democracy increases so also poverty increases, our country now is paying the price of being insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians for many years,” he said.
The president commended the South East zonal executives of NPSA led by Prof. Gerald Ezirim, from the Department of Political Science, UNN, for organising a successful conference.
“I commend the South East zonal executive committee for their perseverance and dedication in organising this event which centres around critical issues in our nation,” he said.
In a remark, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Aloysius Okolie, the Vice-Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), said the theme of the conference was timely and profound given the fact that South East region and entire country are at crucial juncture because of issues of insecurity, economic disturbance that “challenged our people’s resilience and wisdom of our institutions.”
Okolie, however, said that in every difficulty hides an opportunity to rebuild trust, reimagine governance and restore the social bonds that unite communities.
“We should all know that true peace is not merely the absence of conflict, it involves the presence of justice, fairness and opportunity.
“Security is achieved not only through force but also through fairness and inclusion as sustainable development must be people-oriented, participatory and just,” he said.
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Okolie who until his appointment as VC was a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, UNN, said political science as a discipline teaches how to connect ideas with action, research with reforms and governance with accountability.
He noted that South East challenges which include economic marginalisation and youth restiveness cannot be tackled without sound policy thinking and informed citizenry, saying “this is where the academy must take the lead.”
The VC commended Ezirim the South East Chairman of NPSA and his team for sustaining the tradition and reinvigoration of the seeming waning spirit of NPSA in the region.
Also in a remark Prof. Simeon Ortuanya the Vice-Chancellor of UNN while declaring the event open commended NPSA for the theme of the conference which he described as apt.
Ortuanya who was represented by the Director of Academic Planning in UNN, Prof. Anthony Attamah said he had no doubt that the galaxy of political scientists present in the conference would help to find solutions to the country’s numerous problems especially security challenges.
In his remark, the Chairman of NPSA in South East (Prof. Ezirim) said that the zone like several other regions in the country had been plagued by rising insecurity, social tension and economic stagnation which all threatened the social fabric that binds the people together.
“Our task in this conference is not merely to describe these challenges but to interrogate them critically and to extract from them the lessons and pathways that can lead us to a more peaceful and prosperous future.
“This conference therefore is not just like another academic exercise but a platform for reflection, dialogue and collective problem solving.
“I have no doubt the keynote address, paper presentations and discussions in this conference will open a new window of understanding and offer practical strategies for achieving sustainable peace and development not only in Southeast but the entire country,” he said.
The chairman on behalf of the zone expressed gratitude to the national President and entire executive committee for their continuous guidance, encouragement and institutional support.
Our correspondent reports that the keynote address by Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja and the lead paper by Dr. Chris Ngwodo, Director General, Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, Abuja received rapt attention from participants.
HRM Igwe Samuel Asadu, the Traditional Ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Community in Nsukka LGA who is also the Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, the father of the day, was among dignitaries present.
