Emeritus Professor Shuaib Oba, a candidate for governor of Kwara’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), says politics should not be seen as foul play left to politicians alone if Nigeria is to fully develop.
Oba, speaking on Wednesday, urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to become active in party politics.
“To say that politics is a dirty game is a mistake. Politics must also be for clean people, so that we reach the promised land,” said the former vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin.
Oba said that clean people should not leave politics to dirty people.
He said instead that they should get involved through active participation to help clean up the Augean barn.
“If all the clean people leave politics to the dirty people, we will have a dirty nation of dirty people making dirty laws that the good people will obey whether they like it or not.
“So if you’re going to be a victim in that case, it’s appropriate that good people take an interest as well.
“Politics is too serious to be left in the hands of politicians alone. If people of good will try to control the damage, the people will appreciate it,” said the NNPP gubernatorial candidate.
On why he joined NNPP to realize his Kwara governorship ambition, Oba said it is due, among other things, to the fact that the party lacks corrupt leaders and members.
“I joined NNPP because it has people who have a clean bill of health against corruption.
“Our presidential candidate, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, is one of those who has not been persecuted by the country’s anti-corruption agencies,” he said.
Oba said that part of the Strategic Action for Change in Kwara (SACK) program is zero tolerance for corruption and, in the process, inspires good governance.
He asserted that zero tolerance for corruption can be achieved through value reorientation and public service sensitization, including strategic and innovative investments of workers’ pensions to ensure extraordinary return on investment that protects their future.
Oba said another way was to show good leadership by example, in which the leader would make it clear through his actions that he would not tolerate corruption.
“Reducing and eliminating waste, as well as achieving value for money, will go a long way towards eradicating corrupt practices.
“In addition, probity, the sanctity of property rights and good governance will inspire the confidence of the private sector.
“These will also lower transaction costs and attract excellent symbiotic public-private partnership investment that will unlock unprecedented inclusive socio-economic growth for the Kwarans,” he said.
According to Oba, good governance is relatively cheap.
“Still, bad governance is destructive and has catastrophic intergenerational ramifications if left unchecked,” he said.
Oba vowed that he would entrench good governance from the start once he is sworn in as the next governor of Kwara.
