From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has given reasons Nigerian elites must be prepared to make the sacrifices for the benefit of the people.
According to him, in building a successful society and nation, there must be a deliberate effort to create unity, with equity, justice, the rule of law, accountability as components.
According to a statement by a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo spoke at at the “Nigeria at 62 Independence Day Anniversary Public Lecture” at the State House Conference Center, Abuja, where he was Special Guest of Honour.
The guest lecturer at the event was the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi who spoke on the topic, Elites and National Unity.”
In his lecture, Afolabi noted what he described as the “immense responsibility of the Nigerian elite” in resolving the country’s challenges, fostering national unity and development.
The Vice President who commented on the topic, noted that “the story of successful societies is quite simple. It is usually the story of how the society’s elite – its best educated, its political, religious class, influence, direct and lead their societies to progress.
“Put differently, every successful society is the product of a conscious, elite consensus: the implicit and explicit agreements of the elite to change their societies for good. But the elite must be prepared to make the sacrifices for the benefit of everyone.”
According to the Vice President, even though elitism confers privilege, that privilege also comes with responsibility.
He explained that “we who are the elites are a privileged class. But privilege comes with responsibility. It is the French who describe it as “Noblesse Oblige”, the responsibility of privilege.
“There is a responsibility that comes with who we are as the elite. The first responsibility of the elite is sacrifice, the ability to make sacrifices on behalf of the communities that you represent.”
Osinbajo while noting that there is that temptation for society’s elite – whether political, religious or intellectual elites – to seek benefits for self only, the greater good demands a higher sense of sacrifice and responsibility.
“As Prof. (Afolabi) describes it from the original etymology of leadership, it means, ‘go forth to die.’ People who are prepared to make sacrifices, even if it is the ultimate sacrifice, people who are prepared to sacrifice on behalf of their communities. That readiness to sacrifice is so important,” he observed.
Citing the N-Power jobs programme under the Administration’s Social Investments Programme, as an example, Osinbajo said it has engaged over 500,000 young Nigerians, noting the fact that young Nigerians successfully applied from wherever they are in the country with a fair chance of being selected for the programme.
He said the other alternative way to administer the programme “is for the elite, those in government, either in the Executive, Legislature, or perhaps even the Judiciary, to say, ‘let us give ourselves slots.
“When we give ourselves slots, it is because we are not prepared to make the sacrifice that will enable these young people to say, I belong to a country where there is equal opportunity. But we want these young people to believe in the country. We want them to believe that they belong to a country. We want a united country, but we are not prepared to make the sacrifice that is required.”
According to the Vice President, because of the urge to maximise so-called elites’ rights and privileges by some, the basis of national unity and equal opportunity is jeopardized.
The event also featured remarks by both the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha as chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the 62nd Independence anniversary celebrations.
Also at the event were members of the Federal Executive Council; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Permanent Secretaries; heads of government agencies and parastatals; and members of the diplomatic corps, among other dignitaries.
In another development, Osinbajo later commissioned the new Secretariat of the Nigerian Governors Forum in Abuja, at an event where he represented the President.
The complex located at the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory will house offices for the chairman of the forum, the Director General as well as staff of the secretariat.
Speaking shortly before the commissioning by the VP, past chairmen and the current leadership of the forum, commended his leadership of the National Economic Council (NEC), a constitutional body, the VP chairs, comprising all State governors, some members of the Federal cabinet and the Central Bank Governor.
They noted that his leadership of NEC impacted positively on the activities as well as objectives of the forum.
Addressing the VP, the former Zamfara State Governor and immediate Past Chairman of the NGF Abdulaziz Yari stated that “in the past we know how NEC was handled, but the VP handled it professionally and not partisan, all governors given equal rights. We thank you for that leadership.”
Present at the event where the current chairman of the forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, and other former chairmen of the forum, Mr. Lucky Igbinedion of Edo; Senator Bukola Saraki of Kwara; and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.
Also present were Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi; Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa; Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa; Muhammad Inuwa of Gombe; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Douye Diri of Bayelsa and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State. There were also the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Hadiza Balarabe; Moses Ekpo of Akwa Ibom and Mohammed Yakubu of Katsina.