By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA



VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has advised outgoing governors to make good use of the experiences and opportunity they had while in office, and not see their exit from power as an opportunity to run personal businesses or sleep for long hours, in the interest of common people.

Osinbajo, who gave the advice in his remarks at the valedictory session of the National Economic Council, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday, told the governors to deploy the opportunity of the period to further serve the country in various capacities, using their influence as former governors to contribute to healthcare and education.

According to him, donor agencies will be glad to work with ex-governors, especially those with track records of healthcare provision and other humanitarian needs. He said: “I advise that you should use your influence and reach to the advantage of Nigerian people. You have seen and heard for yourselves the enormity of our national problems.

Very few people have the advantage to see closely as we do on the issues that concern our country, the issues that even concern our different states. “We, here, have that unique advantage. So I think that we can help in one way or the other; we can do something in our states and other states in a way of advocacy or action on education and healthcare in particular and jobs.

“I think it is important for those of us who have had the benefit of all of these experience and leadership not to now settle down to a life of business or perhaps of enjoyment or sleeping for eight hours. I need this time for action.”


The privilege to serve

The vice-president, who thanked the governors for the encomiums showered on him by various speakers at the meeting, noted that of Nigeria’s huge population of about 200 million, only 74 persons, including the president, vice-president, 36 governors and their deputies, were given the responsibilities of formulating policies and executing projects meant to serve the huge populace.

While canvassing more commitment of the governors to better the lots of the citizenry, the vice-president noted that in a matter of years, the population of Nigeria would double, pointing out that the country depended heavily on the elite for survival.

He said having led their various states for some years, the governors do not need anyone to advise them any longer on the imperative of unity or security of lives and property, emphasising that the main priority of citizens was availability of food and water on their tables.

However, the vice-president lamented that most people dissipate energy to stoke the embers of disunity and ethnicity, advising the governors to openly condemn those who engage in such acts and resist them because the country does not belong to them alone.

He reiterated the need for the outgoing governors to be challenged by the enormity of problems at stake and consequently use their influence as former governors to contribute to continued efforts to address such problems. Osinbajo added: “In the next few years, our population will double, with the attendant challenges of jobs, education, health care, security and infrastructure.

Every nation that has moved its people from misery to prosperity has depended heavily, in fact, almost completely on the political elite.

‘’Our people have nowhere else to look or to go, it is as they say, at the collective table that the bulk stops.


Govs react

Speaking at the meeting, outgoing chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, commended the vice-president for his sterling leadership in the last four years.

While advising the council on the need to work hard, block leakages in the system and take proactive measures to expand the size of the economy, Yari commended the federal government which he said had done well in the agricultural sector, with N200 billion spent since 2015.

He, however, said if N2 trillion can be spent on oil development every year, much more needed to be spent to shore up growth in agriculture, warning that if Nigeria failed to plan for the future, the country would be sitting on a time bomb and that the aftermath would be catastrophic in the next few years.

He said: “I will say, yes government has done tremendously well in terms of expanding the economy through agriculture by spending over N200 billion through the anchor borrowers programme, but we need to do more because we all agree that agriculture is the mainstay of this economy.

“It provides over 80 per cent of the employment. So, if N2 trillion can be spent yearly on oil development we need to increase our spending on agriculture too. With what we are seeing as governors, especially from the zone where I come from, the rate of population growth, if nothing is done to address it, I am afraid Mr. Chairman, we are sitting on a time bomb. And that’s the truth.’’

Speaking on behalf of South-West governors, Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode, who recalled the challenges facing the states when NEC came into being in 2015, narrated how 27 states could not pay workers’ salaries. According to him, this led to the decision to seek bailout funds for states from the federal government, which was promptly approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Describing the vice-president as tolerant, friendly, accommodating and a stickler for good governance and accountability, Ambode advised the next NEC to address the issue of power and steel, saying doing so will go a long way to reflate the economy.

Also speaking on behalf of South-East governors, Imo State governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, suggested the need to set target as performance benchmark.

He said where there was no target, most people would not feel motivated to perform, noting that the trend among governors over the years had always been that some performed well, another over-performed, while others under-performed.

While speaking on behalf of North-West governors, Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, commended the vice-president for providing the right direction to the council.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/05/dont-spend-your-life-sleeping-outside-power-osinbajo-advises-outgoing-govs/

Interesting...

Lolz

I advise that you should use your influence and reach to the advantage of Nigerian people. You have seen and heard for yourselves the enormity of our national problems

They should not sleep on the bicycle!

Firefire:
Interesting...

Firefire first post since the eve of the Presidential election many many months ago!
Good to see you again comrade!
We'll all join hands together to build a New Nigeria that we all pray for.
Peace!

So you are saying they should all run for Senate and continue looting abi?

Hopeless Governor's, deserve long rest period....... I hope their people start showing them hot pepper..........

lol... what experience do those looters have? i wonder the experience that prof is talking about...


the only experience possessed by those thieves is stealing cum looting of public funds

I wonder what he will advice Buhari when he is going out, he hardly knows anything happening around him while still in office, what will he know when he is out of office

Nonsense

Nice one
People will rush to comment without readin.
Osibanjo said, that they should use the influence the have to fas track aid agenciez to help in building the health and education sector.

lomprico:
So you are saying they should all run for Senate and continue looting abi?

anambraamaka:
Nonsense

Just point out the nonsense and give the sense on what he should hv said so we all here can tap fron ur abundant knowledge

dem don thief money abeg allow them sleep biko

Need the ideal home to relax?

https://m.facebook.com/Choice-Properties-237439363801615/?ref=bookmarks

EFCC will keep awake already.... They shall Rest In Prison....

Most of them created insecurity through ceaseless looting, promotion of thugery & cultism .Sleeplessness & Restlessness for grand looters. GOD will surely reward them accordingly

they shd just set up philanthropic organisations to help d needy or at least keep away from from funding militants and bandits/kidnappers who are making governance difficult from their enormous wealth.

True talk....

Some would contest for senators next election...

they don't have anything to offer to health and education. they are selfish,

Professor yemi is just too inteligent, Its easier for an ex-governor to work into an Organisation like bill and melinda gates foundation and give them the Proposal backed by priviledged data they have on the current issues facing their states which lack of federal funding or low IGR couldnt cater for.

This is one aspect Obasanjo showed his prowess in after retirement that Jonathan hasnt.. Obasanjo is actively involved in Foundation catering for better Public Governance all around africa while his successor and predecessor sleep like akamu in their mansions.

This also goes out to our retired Secuirity Experts that Goverment spent a furtune training home and abroad, yet ragtag riffraff badits with ak47 keeps tormenting their vilages and they couldnt recomend a solution


.

Amebo how it take concern you where dem sleep?is it your sleep?

story...when they were in power they were sleeping...is it now when they are out of power they will not sleep...les hear word jorrr

Mr Advicer

post=78664920:

They should not sleep on the bicycle!



Firefire first post since the eve of the Presidential election many many months ago!
Good to see you again comrade!
We'll all join hands together to build a New Nigeria that we all pray for.
Peace!

I doubt a rent seeker can ever build anything, they only seek to pay rent from rent they get so please join hands with like minded people.

Senatorial ticket loading

Stalwert:


I doubt a rent seeker can ever build anything, they only seek to pay rent from rent they get so please join hands with like minded people.

We are only trying to be nice as usual comrade.
Let's make love, not war!

post=78665963:

We are only trying to be nice as usual comrade.
Let's make love, not war!

Always love your spirit thumbs up

Stalwert:


Always love your spirit thumbs up

One love bro.
Stay blessed!

Lastorator:
Nice one
People will rush to comment without readin.
Osibanjo said, that they should use the influence the have to fas track aid agenciez to help in building the health and education sector.

Something they can't do while in office, with monies to steal, u now expecting them to do it free later?
Arrant nonsense, they should all be packed into a prison to rot away