Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, EKSU, Professor Oladipo Aina (Left); presenting the Document on the Establishment of the Institute of Governance, EKSU, to Governor Kayode Fayemi, while the Chairman of the occasion, Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN (Right), watches with rapt attention, during the 7th International Conference and General Assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), in Ado-Ekiti.
Plans by Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to return to the classroom as an academic appears to be at the final stage as the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof Dipo Aina, on Monday, presented to the Governor documents on the establishment of the Institute of Governance as passed by the Varsity Council.
Governor Fayemi is billed to lecture at the institute when it eventually takes off next session, thus becoming the first sitting governor in the country to serve as a University teacher.
The Governor who had severally expressed interest in impacting knowledge in the students of Peace and Conflict Studies in the State-owned University was presented with the documents at the opening session of the 7th International annual conference of Society for Peace Studies and Practice held at the EKSU Campus in Ado Ekiti on Monday.
Governor Fayemi who holds a doctorate degree in War Studies from King’s College, London, said the Institute will help to analyse the situation of the nation’s democracy; even as he stated that it is the duty of all to guarantee peace in the society.
He stressed that peace cannot be guaranteed in the absence of justice and development. He then called on all Nigerians to work towards peaceful coexistence among all interest groups in the group.
“Peace”, he stated is a “necessary ingredient in nation building and development”. “We should move from empty sloganeering to concerted efforts at restoring peace to the society. And the university system can play a significant role through teachings and research in peace and conflict studies.” He added.
While speaking on the nation’s democratic experience, the Governor asserted that alternation of power is the surest way to consolidate the nation’s democracy; adding that Nigerian has not witnessed any transition since it is still the same regime that is in power.
Dr. Fayemi, while citing Ghana which has held five general elections since 1992 with the ruling and opposition parties alternating power, stated that Nigeria only has democracy in form but not in content, stressing that so many factors that characterise democracy are still lacking in Nigeria.
He however expressed optimism that the conference will help to augment the “quality and texture” of democracy in Nigeria even as the term is already abused.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, also at the event, advocated for a democratic system that will adequately address the volatile situation of the polity.
Tambuwal , who was represented by Hon Muraina Ajibola, affirmed that the system which the country presently operates can no longer serve Nigerians and this is reflected in the spate of violence, kidnapping and other social vices that speak of the difficulties in the nation’s federalism.
Tambuwal who stressed the importance of peace in the development of the nation assured that peaceful approaches will be taken by stakeholders to address the challenges facing the country.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the conference, Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN) stated that for any nation like Nigeria to attain peace and security, certain fundamentals, including justice, must be addressed.
Ali said the theme of the conference “Defining and Rethinking Peace and Security Systems in Transitional Democracies” is not only timely but also “apposite, given the spate of violent occurrences” in the country.
Last modified: March 26, 2013