Meeting People’s Expectations, Good Governance Are Unachievable Without Responsible Politics – Sam Omatseye

L-R: Ex LASU student union president, Lai Adebayo; Prof. Odion Sylvester of the faculty of social science; Director, LASUDA, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji Belo; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administrations), Prof. Oyedamola Oke; Chairman, Editorial Board, The Nations Newspaper, Mr. Sam Omatseye and the Anchor of the symposium Prof. Oluwole Akeredolu at the 4th Annual /Lecture Symposium held Tuesday at the Lagos State University premises.

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

…..LASU VC Urges LASUDA To Sensitize Citizens On Overburdening Government

Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nations Newspaper, Mr. Sam Omatseye has said that it is not possible to meet the people’s enormous expectations which is the true measurement of good governance without playing responsible politics.

This is as the Lagos State University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun SAN urges Lagos State University Directorate of Advancement (LASUDA) to sensitize citizens on assisting the government by refraining from overburdening them hence making them deep hands into the common purse.

Fagbohun who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Oyedamola Oke Instigated this on Tuesday at the LASUDA 4th Annual Lecture/Symposium with theme: Good Governance : People’s Expectations held in Lagos.

During his presentation Omatseye opined that when politics goes wrong, governance follows suit, “in order to get governance right Nigerians must get politics right.”

“We can’t know what the people want in the cozy condition of the board room, Nigeria has several problems but can be simplified to shelter, food, education and infrastructure, without responsible politics there can’t be good governance and without good governance there can’t be enabling environment for citizens,” he said.

Also speaking, one of the speakers, Prof. Odion Sylvester of the Faculty of social science, LASU said any government that has not been able to provide the economic needs and positive rights such as right to gainful employment, rights to live above poverty level and right to good health care can not be described as one who has achieved good governance.

He stated that good governance cannot be talked about without considering economic freedom.

Lai Adebayo, EX LASU Student Union President and a speaker at the event insisted that violence, Boko Haram attack, kidnapping and others can only be controlled if government engage the youths or create an enabling environment where they can do business for themselves.

However, Adebayo urged the youth to be realistic with their expectations, start from where they are and with what they have rather than waiting for white collar job adding that the government can not do everything.

Director, LASUDA, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji Belo added that people’s expectations are very paramount to good governance “you may want to do alot of things as a leader but the people’s needs comes first.

She adviced the University’s students who listened aptly to the discussion that they should be good examples in the society, she advised them to emulate Lai Adebayo stressing that he achieved a lot such as the University Radio Station and others during his tenure.