Fayemi wants rogues out of government

A former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has called on Nigeria to appreciate professionals in government and avoid people whose rise could not be traced to a process of disciplined tutelage and selfless service.

Fayemi spoke at the maiden symposium of the Advanced Media and Communications Academy held in honour of Yemi Farounbi and Ayoola Olukanni at the University of Ibadan on Wednesday.

The theme of the former governor’s speech is, ‘Our New Nigeria: The role of professionals in government’.

While calling for the involvement of technocrats and professionals to handle government affairs at all levels in Nigeria, Fayemi, who was represented by the Director of Publicity, South West Zone, All Progressives Congress, Dr. Ayo Afolabi, at the event, however, said that among the politicians, there were qualified persons who did not make noise about their professional background.

He said, “We must denounce many of those whose rise to the limelight was aided by corruption and deception, those intelligent rogues who profit from the misery of others. We must rekindle the patriotic spirit that favours the common good over personal interest in every area of our national life, so that finally, government can deliver on its promises of tangible and intangible goods.

“We must be reminded that certificates are awarded to those who are considered worthy in character and learning. We must start putting round pegs in round holes, and entrench meritocracy which enlists true professionals in every area of our national life, from the artisans to the public service to the private sector, even to the sanctums of faith.”

Fayemi also noted that Nigeria’s quest for ethnic balancing and ‘sectional arithmetic’ in the public service often led to the retirement of a whole cohort of officials.

“In the process, we have sustained huge losses of trained manpower, repositories of institutional wisdom and experience who should otherwise be serving as mentors to incoming generations.”

While eulogising some of the first republic politicians such as the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who Fayemi described as true professionals in government.