Strengthen judiciary, law enforcement to tackle corruption; Prof Azaiki tells Buhari

NEDU MARK, Yenagoa

Former Secretary to the Bayelsa State government, Prof Steve Azaiki has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen the judiciary and the law enforcement institutions in order to tackle corruption and other problems challenging good governance in the states.

While blaming nepotism, corruption and tribalism as militating against good leadership in Nigeria, Prof Azaiki who is an author of many books said until leaders shun these acts, the country would never rise to a greater height.

Speaking, Wednesday, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, during the presentation of his new book, “Thoughts on Nigeria:, Speeches, Letters and Essays, the former commissioner for Agriculture, insisted that lack of competent leadership had hindered socio-economic growth of the nation just as he decried the country’s sole dependence on crude oil as its major source of revenue.

Prof Azaiki therefore, called on leaders and the youth to ‘have a change of their mental, spiritual and physical perception to life, rather than dwell on corrupt practices in our workplace and homes,’ while however, regretting that African leaders ‘are never prepared for the task of becoming leaders, but catapult themselves to the position, thereby promoting corrupt acts.’

“We have spiritual, mental and physical poverty in Nigeria and that what breeds corrupt practices,” he posited.

On his new book, “Thoughts on Nigeria”, Azaiki said the book dwells on contemporary issues in the country, especially on leadership, resource control and manpower building as well as poverty in the Niger Delta region.

On power generation, Prof Azaiki lauded the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for improving the power sector during his tenure as President.

He appealed to President Buhari to consolidate on Jonathan’s legacy on power generation to transform the nation’s electricity problems, particularly in the rural communities of Niger Delta.