As the campaign for political and fiscal restructuring gathers momentum, Nigerians have been urged to focus on attitudinal restructuring in order to attain better citizenry.
This call was made by Professor Matthew Ola-Rotimi Ajayi, of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria, while delivering the 4th Inaugural Lecture at the University on Wednesday, 30th June,2021.
According to Ajayi, a Fulbright Scholar: “Good and desirable as political and fiscal restructuring are in Nigeria, more attention should also be focused on attitudinal restructuring of the citizenry
In his inaugural lecture was titled: “The All African Game: Rotimising the Politics of Poverty and the Poverty of Politics”, the don further asserted that “As a game that it is, we need to learn and play politics with love, not hatred or bitterness. That way the essence of our humanity and nationhood would be fully realized.
“All of us must remain incurable optimists in our great country as we shun despondency and other fatalistic dispositions, he advised.
Ajayi further admonished leaders and all stakeholders that “Life itself is a game with its time and season. Play your part very well.
He noted: “In the words of the legendary Nelson Mandela, leaders at different levels must “lead from the back and let others believe they are in the front.” That is the heart of democracy as a government of the people, for the people and by the people.
Prof. Ajayi also made the case for sound moral character thus:“As a nation, in place of the much-abused and worn-out cliché called federal character, what we need in Nigeria at this particular hour is more of sound moral character on the part of both leaders and followers.”
Earlier, he held the audience spellbound with a chronicle of his intercontinental academic voyage as well as his reflections on Africa and Nigerian political scenes. His lecture was laced with facts, figures and tables to boot.
And for those who may be wondering about his new-fangled word, the don said : “ Rotimising, a new addition to political vocabulary, as used in this context, simply connotes Rotimi’s reflections on the poverty of African and particularly, Nigerian politics.”
