Democracy offers opportunity for good governance, nation building says Aregbesola

anwar danjaji

March 9, 2017 3:21 PM

The governor made this known in a statement by his Media Aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, in Osogbo on Thursday.

Gov Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State says all hands should be on deck to ensure that democracy offers the best opportunity for good governance and nation building.

‎Aregbesola made this known in a statement by his Media Aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, in Osogbo on Thursday.

According to the governor, leaders are not just elected to massage their ego, but rather they are responsible for the development of the people.

The governor called on political scientists in the country to be more focused on taking assertive positions on issues of national interest as a means of contributing to national development.

He described politics as a primal activity which any society that wanted development and progress should do everything possible to get right.

Aregbesola, who noted that politics was central to everybody who lived in a community, charged the political scientists to make their voices heard by the leaders of the people.

According to the governor, political science researches should not just be done for the purpose of gaining promotion alone, but should be made to develop the society or else such research is useless.

On the relationship which should exist between the academic environment and the society, he said the major challenge for Nigerian universities was the need to create a mutual relationship with the larger society so that the people could benefit.

The governor explained that democracy remained the best form of governance if supported and backed with the right ingredients, especially by the academic environment.

“Political science research findings should be made public, not just for obtaining promotion and professorial chairs.

“Any academic discipline must be relevant and responsible to the society.

“In the developed world, progress comes from application of knowledge in science and technology, administration and other academic disciplines,’’ the governor said.

According to him, political scientists should get more involved in politics and administration in order to enrich their knowledge base.

“Sound theory added to sound practice equals sound knowledge.

“On the other hand, well-practised politicians should be appointed into faculties in political science departments to be able to share their experience through teaching, research, seminars and publications,” he added.

anwar danjaji