As the 2023 General Elections draw near, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has urged Nigerians to shun emotions and vote in credible leaders based on their accomplishments to have the Nigeria that is beneficial to all.

The Deputy Governor gave this admonishment this today at the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT) Good Governance Workshop themed: “Credible Leadership and Good Governance-From Home to Hero” held at Raddison Blu Hotel, GRA, Lagos.

Dr. Hamzat said governance is not about emotions or trial and error and Nigerians must vote in leaders that have good antecedents and not be ridden by emotions in order to find lasting solutions to myriads of challenges facing the country.

Hamzat said, “Governance is not about emotions or trial and error. We must look at what we really want. In Nigeria today, we must have coincidence of wants. We must agree and be ready to make sacrifice for our children. It is not about everybody thinking they have the solutions to the problem of the country. We should stop attacking ourselves. There must be partnership.”

Citing the American Third President, Thomas Jefferson, “No nation will develop unless its citizens are well informed”,  the deputy governor charged Nigerians to be informed and interrogate information given, so that they will not be deceived with bogus statistics and lies been thrown around.

Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat stated that though everybody is angry but anger is not a strategy adding that Nigerians must come together to solve her problems, that there must be partnership and coincidence of wants.  He added that everyone should be ready for a better Nation.

While describing the breakdown of the family structure as one of the fundamental problems of the nation, the Deputy Governor charged parents to take good care of their children as they have abandoned their roles as parents have failed in giving them the needed training and upbringing. He said that children are no more learning, but rather looking for means to make quick money. 

He said, “We should be realistic and understand our problem. Our problem is we are not taking care of our children. We have abandoned our children as fathers and mothers. The reality today is that the level of discipline in our homes and at schools has collapsed”.

He therefore tasked religious bodies to strive to change the mindset of the youths by stressing in their sermons, morals and virtues. He also urged the clerics to charge the citizens to be more Godly adding that people cannot just be religious alone and not been Godly.  

Earlier in his presentation, titled, “It takes village to raise a Hero: Imperative for Community and Religious Leaders” the former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso who was represented by Alh. Olarewaju Kamaal stressed the need to strengthen and restore family values in the country.

He said that the various social vices in the country are due to the breakdown of the family structure which is the bedrock of any society. The former Governor therefore enjoined religion leaders and scholars to tell Nigerians to be closer to God and that they should intensify prayers for the leaders.

In his welcome address, the President of the Nasrul-Lahi—L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Mr. Niyi Yusuf stated that the event which was the second in the series of its Good Governance Workshop was in furtherance of the society’s mission to promote good governance in the country for the benefit of all.

The president said that it is believed that “if there is good governance in the country, there would be solutions to the various challenges facing the country”.

He noted that the foundation for good governance must be laid right from the family which is the first unit of socialization, adding that NASFAT will continue to preach good governance in the country.