By Wale Oyewale
Lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Shina Pellar, has decried what he described as the archaic political ideologies being promoted by the leadership in Nigeria as well as the recycling of leaders noting that the practice is hindering the nation’s development.
Pellar spoke on Friday at the Get involved leadership training workshop with the focus on ‘Engaging for a new Nigeria,’ held at the Jogor Events and Conference Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The two-day workshop engaged a total of 160 participants in two batches of 80 youths per day. The lawmaker said the forum was used to re-orientate the youths on the concept of being a focused leader.
Pella, who described the nation’s structure as a failed political structure, said, “I believe it is high time for us to rewrite the story of our country and that starts from building our immediate environment. The leaders in Nigeria are the ones making policies that affects our daily lives and businesses. Why can’t we be in the decision making group? I think we should give opportunity to young people to channel their creativity and aspirations into nation building.
“Looking at the present political structure in Nigeria; it is a failed structure that is not working. We have a total of 8,809 wards in the country and I can tell you that 95 percent of the people calling the short at the ward level are not informed, so it makes our foundation to be warped. While other countries have a foundation.
“The motive is to call the attention of Nigerian youth to take responsibility of building their immediate communities. I am sure if many of us are doing this at the same time, we would be building the nation. Most of the young people in Nigeria, I am sure, are tired of the situation and that is why we see most of our young people focusing on Big Brother and other entertainment programmes.
“I believe it is high time for us to set a sustainable structure which we can be able to ride on in order to achieve a country of our dream. We have got to a stage in Nigeria where we should set the age bracket of people who would occupy positions of political responsibility. Putting sustainable source of income as a criteria for considering people for political positions should be key.
“This a non governmental, a non profit oriented organisation and participants at this workshop are selected from across the Oyo State with the aim of spreading all parts of the country.”
