The President of Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, (SAN), has identified political corruption, materialistic and unpatriotic tendencies as causes of Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
He stated this in an interview with journalists on the sideline of the 50th birthday celebration of his wife, Mrs Olaide Akinseye-George, on Monday in Abuja.
“Political corruption is the mother of all corruption. Wherever leaders are politically corrupt, they will do anything to get and retain power without considering national interest.
“Any kind of crisis we are having can be traced to political leaders having selfish interests.
“Unless we reform our political system, our democracy will not be sustainable,” he said.
Akinseye-George, a professor of Public Law stated that Nigerians need value re-orientation, in order to place priority on collective national interest for the nation to move forward.
According to him, we place too much emphasis on materialistic and mundane things, and this is affecting our priorities; we are too self-centered and materialistic.
“Let us think in terms of what we can do to help our country and not what we can get,’’ he urged.
The legal luminary also noted that the divisive tendencies of many leaders, which made them, promote what divide Nigeria must be stopped to give way to social harmony and national unity.
“Nigeria will only move forward if tribal and religious sentiments are taken out of decision making by leaders at all levels.
“We are all brothers, and we should work towards that sense of national brotherhood, patriotism and unity.
“Honestly, if we have a total political reform, have the right national value and a greater sense of patriotism, our future is bright as a country,” he asserted.
He, however, commended the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration for its effort in overcoming insurgency and other threats to national security.
“We have relative peace in Nigeria now, and we are grateful. This shows that this Government is serious about security of lives and property, and I know they can do more,” he said.
Akinseye-George, who saluted his wife’s achievements and contributions to humanity, said 50 years in the life of an individual was a milestone and therefore, moral lessons should be drawn from it.
“Because of the life expectancy in Nigeria, anybody who live up to 50 years and beyond should be most grateful to God.
“I feel overwhelmed with gratitude to God as I celebrate my wife’s fruitful five decades.
“Nigeria should also draw lessons from this and be grateful to God. After over 50 years of independence, we have stayed together in spite all our challenges, and this tells me we have hope for a better Nigeria,” he assured.
NAN reports that the celebrant, Mrs Akinseye-George, also a Lawyer, is a certified Associate of the Chartered Institute of Mediators and
Reconciliators and an Executive Director of the prestigious Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS)
Dignitaries from the public and private sectors, including the academia, as well as Legal Luminaries from the Bench and the Bar were present at the Golden Jubilee celebration.
Lawmakers, Heads of parastatals and top government functionaries including the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang were also present (NAN)