As more Nigerians continue to wallow in abject poverty, a university don has warned that without meeting the basic needs of the generality of the society, democracy will appear useless to them.

Speaking at the annual social weekend of Life Theological Seminary, Ikorodu recently, Professor of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Williams Fawole said Nigeria has woefully failed its citizens and unable to satisfy popular yearnings for good life.

Professor Fawole, who was the guest speaker, maintained that the failure had become more glaring and quite disturbing in the last one decade.

In a paper entitled, Service Delivery and National Development in a Democracy: The Nigerian experience, Professor Fawole said: "It is only in Nigeria, a country that is rich and well endowed, that an individual has to practically function like a local government of sorts before he or she can hope to even enjoy a modicum of actualized and decent existence."
According to him, the expectations of Nigerians for good and accountable governance have remained a forlorn hope, adding that governments at all levels have distanced themselves from the governed.

He said: "Even the current democratic rule which is supposed to carry certain irreducible minimum dividends for the electorate to enjoy, has also badly miscarried as members of the ruling group remain unconcerned and unmoved or unperturbed by the deteriorating living standards of the people over whom they exercise power. By failing to provide for and meet the legitimate expectations of the people, the nation has not only spectacularly failed its citizens but it has also completely and cynically abandoned them to their own self-made survival strategies and devices."

The head of department of International Relations identified corruption as the bane of service delivery in the country.

He described Nigerian as an incredibly corrupt country which has deliberately institutionalized corruption as a way of life.

After painting a gloomy picture of a non-performing state, he concluded that only good leadership would produce a fundamental change of attitude towards governance.
He also warned that until Christians begin to take the word of God seriously and refuse to make compromises with the world, good leadership and righteousness may elude the country.
Earlier in his remarks, chairman of the occasion and Managing Director UAC Manufacturers Delivery Services, Lagos, Mr Hakeem Ogundiran, had said: "The popular stream of thought in present day Nigeria is that appointment to a leadership position is an opportunity for self-aggrandizement. The decades of perpetuation of this mindset has entrenched corrupt practices into our political social and economic fabric as the generally acceptable way of life."

Quoting from John 3:5-17, he said Jesus Christ introduced His disciples to the concept of service and showed them that the essence of promotion is to serve.

According to him, leadership is not a reward for service but a platform to enable service on a greater scale.

He called on everyone to "embrace the call for radical change in our corporate attitude and thinking and the Bible as God’s guide for our existence, must guide this revolution. He added: "We can change this country only one person at a time and we must become the change that we seek to see in the nation".
In his welcome address, the Provost of the school, Dr Cletus Orgu, explained that the institution’s social weekend was an annual interactive event that witnesses a large gathering of members of staff, students and the general public where speakers are invited to brainstorm on topical issues that would impact positively on the society. According to him, areas that come under focus include politics, socio-economic and religious matters.

The programme also features visits to orphanages, community development and social rehabilitation centre with donations in cash and kind to the needy.

On his part, the chairman, planning committee, Mr Isaac Tolu Boluwatise, added that since the inception of the programme over a decade ago, many outstanding scholars and prominent Nigerians have graced the programme including Justice Muri Okunola, Reverend Father Stan Chu Illoh, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Professor Pat Utomi, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Dr Christoper Kolade, Mr Femi Falana and Festus Keyamo.

He disclosed that subsequent editions, would focus on public-oriented projects aimed at alleviating difficult economic problems such as award of scholarships, sinking of boreholes, resurfacing of roads and repairing of streetlights.
The theme for this year’s event was Service Culture in a vibrant Democracy.