#NBASPIDEL2021: Insecurity: Leaders Must Stop Blame Game, Take Responsibility — Okorocha

*We’re Proposing The Establishment Of Office Of The Public
Defender, Says Makinde

A former governor of Imo State, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, gave the
admonition in Ibadan while speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), Spidel annual conference, held at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, the
Oyo State capital.

Speaking on the theme: “The Imperatives of Public Interest in
Governance in Nigeria,” Okorocha noted that poverty ravaging the
citizens of Nigeria has become devastating, as it has grown to its
climax.

According to him, the high rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria
is sending a signal that the Nigerian state is sitting on a time
bomb that could explode at any point in time if the menace is not
quickly addressed.

He equally advised the government to rule based on people’s
interest and devoid of personal interest.

His words: “The blame game must stop, leaders must take
responsibility. This nation is ours, it makes it incumbent on us to
take responsibility.”

“There is a co-relationship between poverty and insecurity. For
as long as these two issues are not holistically addressed, there
is no way out,” Okorocha observed.

On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who declared the
conference opened, said the role of public interest is crucial in
achieving good governance.

Makinde said: “The Role of Public Interest in Governance in
Nigeria. Today in Nigeria, everyone wants good governance. But the
methods of achieving it seem to keep eluding us. When it comes to
the relationship between public interest and governance, things get
even trickier.”

“For example, getting the balance right regarding availability
of information in the public interest and classified information
that should not be in the public domain. We are living in an age
where people are demanding more from those in authority. Citizens
are calling for greater transparency and accountability, and they
are demanding more inclusiveness. I hope that we would have moved
several steps closer to finding that balance at the end of your
deliberations.”

“I will refer to one of the actions our administration has taken
to defend public interest and make legal aid available to indigent
citizens. Our Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof
Oyelowo Oyewo, transmitted an executive bill to the Oyo State House
of Assembly proposing the establishment of the Office of the Public
Defender.”

*We’re Proposing The Establishment Of Office Of The Public
Defender, Says Makinde

A former governor of Imo State, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, gave the
admonition in Ibadan while speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), Spidel annual conference, held at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, the
Oyo State capital.

Speaking on the theme: “The Imperatives of Public Interest in
Governance in Nigeria,” Okorocha noted that poverty ravaging the
citizens of Nigeria has become devastating, as it has grown to its
climax.

According to him, the high rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria
is sending a signal that the Nigerian state is sitting on a time
bomb that could explode at any point in time if the menace is not
quickly addressed.

He equally advised the government to rule based on people’s
interest and devoid of personal interest.

His words: “The blame game must stop, leaders must take
responsibility. This nation is ours, it makes it incumbent on us to
take responsibility.”

“There is a co-relationship between poverty and insecurity. For
as long as these two issues are not holistically addressed, there
is no way out,” Okorocha observed.

On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who declared the
conference opened, said the role of public interest is crucial in
achieving good governance.

Makinde said: “The Role of Public Interest in Governance in
Nigeria. Today in Nigeria, everyone wants good governance. But the
methods of achieving it seem to keep eluding us. When it comes to
the relationship between public interest and governance, things get
even trickier.”

“For example, getting the balance right regarding availability
of information in the public interest and classified information
that should not be in the public domain. We are living in an age
where people are demanding more from those in authority. Citizens
are calling for greater transparency and accountability, and they
are demanding more inclusiveness. I hope that we would have moved
several steps closer to finding that balance at the end of your
deliberations.”

“I will refer to one of the actions our administration has taken
to defend public interest and make legal aid available to indigent
citizens. Our Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof
Oyelowo Oyewo, transmitted an executive bill to the Oyo State House
of Assembly proposing the establishment of the Office of the Public
Defender.”