United States of America’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington has advised Nigerians to be more concerned about the country being peaceful, united, secured and prosperous this year than what would happen after next year elections.
Speaking at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan at an event organised to mark the 2018 World Earth Day in commemoration of the Earth Day founded 48 years ago by a former Wisconsin US Senator, Gaylord Nelson, the envoy said once peaceful coexistence is sustained this year, he expected Nigerians to be able to make informed choices in the 2019 elections.
He lauded the diversity, resilience, wisdom and energy of Nigerians as extraordinary, urging educational institutions to continue to produce the greatest products for the improvement of the nation.
Speaking further, Symington said the myriads of problems bedeviling Nigeria and Nigerians could be solved if they believe more in themselves and look inwards rather than seeking external intervention.
Symington, however, urged Nigeria to preserve forests for agricultural production purposes as well as institutions like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) with its potential to generate agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
He bemoaned the herdsmen/farmers clashes in Nigeria which threatens the country’s coexistence, calling on government to regulate cattle rearing.
Drawing from experience in the United States, Symington said the government and cattle owners could achieve a win-win situation if government can take over the rearing of cattle using control ranches and giving returns to the cow owners.
“I don’t think Nigeria can lose a day or a year in its history by sitting down to find a solution to its problems and employment to that person looking for a job. We have a group called the Young African Leaders Initiative. Members of this movement exchange ideas about questions on development. The most important thing of all is Nigeria.”
He added: “In the first year of my stay in Nigeria, I traveled to all the 36 states of the country. Everywhere I reached, people said they have leadership challenge at the local, state and national levels. My first reaction to push back the question is that the country is in democracy, the people are the leaders, they are the government. You did it in 2015.
“Two weeks ago, I was in Kaduna and I suddenly realised that there is a challenge because there are two sides to leadership; the leader and the ship. In a democracy, the people are the ship, the pilot is only there for a time but the ship remains. The most important thing is not what Nigeria will do in 2019 but what they will do now because they are the ship” the envoy said.
The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Emilolorun Aiyelari, decried desertification of forests and destruction of farms by grazing activities of herdsmen.
He assured audience of the research collaboration between the University of Ibadan and the United States consulate towards addressing environmental problems, which he noted is threatening the continued existence of humanity
Olayinka said: “Many Nigerians will spend much of this year thinking about what will happen in 2019. My mind said it is extraordinarily important for every Nigerian to spend this year thinking about what to do to make Nigeria more secured, peaceful, prosperous and united.
Apart from the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, who was represented by his deputy in charge of Administration, Prof. Emilolorun Aiyelari; others who attended the event included Principal officers of the University; members of the university management; top functionaries of the US Embassy in Nigeria; and members of the university community, including staff and students.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
