News
Nigeria’s poverty level shameful, says Utomi
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pat-Utomi.jpg&description=Nigeria’s poverty level shameful, says Utomi', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pat-Utomi.jpg&description=Nigeria’s poverty level shameful, says Utomi', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Prominent political economist and former presidential aspirant, Prof. Pat Utomi, has expressed grave concerns over the high poverty levels in Nigeria, deeming them “shameful.”
Speaking at the launch of ‘The New Tribe’ during a Global Village Square Town Hall meeting at Four Points By Sheraton in Victoria Island, Lagos, Utomi lamented the fact that Nigeria has more poor people than India, despite the latter having a population seven times larger.
Utomi stated, “This country of great potential, as we celebrate 64 years of independence, is still crawling. It has become the place of domicile for the poorest people on the planet. The Brookings study a few years ago showed how, in absolute numbers, there are more poor people in Nigeria than in India. That should make anybody feel ashamed. How? Explain to me how the richest can become the poorest.”
He highlighted the deterioration of values in Nigeria, attributing it to the country’s ongoing issues.
He emphasised the need for citizens to engage with the problems facing Nigeria and work towards solutions.
“Fundamentally, progress is dependent on culture, on your values. And if you look at Nigeria, the one clear thing is the collapse of culture. The values have gone south. I mean, people don’t have a sense of shame anymore. Our political class is an embarrassment,” he remarked.
Utomi also pointed out the failing institutions in Nigeria, particularly in the justice sector, which he believes deter investors from coming to the country.
He noted, “The Nigerian judiciary is considered a joke around the world. Nobody takes it seriously. Investors don’t come to Nigeria because they say to you, ‘If I have a dispute with a partner in Nigeria, going to court is a waste of time. Complete waste of time.’ And so they go to a country where the returns can be less, but where at least they know some justice can be obtained from the courts.”
Regarding ‘The New Tribe’ initiative, Utomi explained that it aims to unite like-minded individuals with progressive ideas to foster development without relying solely on government action.
He emphasised the important role of the Nigerian diaspora in the country’s transformation, drawing parallels with the historical development of nations like Japan, India, and China, which benefited from their diasporas.
“The diaspora has a fundamental role to play in the transformation of our country,” he said, adding that the initiative seeks to foster a spirit of ‘Ubuntu’—the idea that “I am because we are.”
One of the initiatives under ‘The New Tribe’ focuses on leveraging the expertise of medical professionals in the diaspora to improve health services in Nigeria, particularly in first aid training and emergency care.
The event featured notable speakers, including Dr. Yinusa Tanko from the Obidient Movement, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Executive Director of Enough is Enough Yemi Adamolekun, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and Nana Kazaure.
The Founder and Executive Director of the Convention on Business Integrity in Nigeria, Soji Apanpa, emphasised the importance of public accountability, urging Nigerians across all tribes to uphold ethical standards.
He stated, “Values matter in tribes. There’s a central theme running through the conscience of anyone who is in this new tribe, which is that we do things right and we do the right things.”
The event culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on emergency services between ‘The New Tribe’ initiative and three state governments, with Nasarawa State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna, signing alongside Utomi.
The Accord Party has defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polling unit of former Osun Deputy Governor and ex-APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
According to results uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), Accord secured 131 votes at Polling Unit 003, Ife Ward 1 (Moore), St. Gabriel Primary School, in Ife East Local Government Area.
The APC polled 85 votes to finish second, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) recorded 10 votes. Other political parties obtained marginal votes at the polling unit.
The result adds to a series of early victories recorded by the Accord Party as INEC continues the uploading and collation of results across the state.
Earlier, Accord also won at the polling unit of former Osun Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
The result sheet uploaded on the IReV portal showed Accord polling 125 votes, ahead of the APC, which recorded 85 votes. The ADC secured five votes.
Meanwhile, INEC has continued to upload results from polling units across Osun State as the governorship election moves into the collation stage.
Voters across the state’s 30 local government areas cast their ballots on Saturday to elect a governor for the next four years.
The major contenders in the election include the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam.
The Accord Party has won the governorship election at the polling unit of former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
According to the result sheet uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IReV portal, Accord polled 125 votes to emerge victorious at the polling unit.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) came second with 85 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured five votes.
The African Action Congress (AAC) scored two votes, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Young Progressive Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) each recorded one vote.
Other parties, including the AA, ADP, APGA, APM, APP, BP, NNPP and PRP, recorded no votes.
The result sheet showed that 228 voters were accredited, with 220 valid votes cast and eight rejected ballots.
The election was conducted at Court Hall I, Okuku, in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
The result comes against the backdrop of Oyinlola’s reported endorsement of the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the election.
Oyinlola, who governed Osun State from 2003 to 2010, had publicly backed Oyebamiji despite the APC candidate running against incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The outcome at Oyinlola’s polling unit therefore puts the Accord Party ahead of the APC, with Adeleke’s party failing to secure the unit despite the incumbent governor’s participation in the election.
Voting was disrupted in Ejigbo, Osun State, after violence broke out at a polling unit during the ongoing Osun State Governorship election.
It was gathered that voters, residents and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fled the polling unit as tension escalated around the area.
According to Channels TV, people were seen running in different directions while motorcycles and vehicles moved through the area as residents attempted to escape the unfolding situation.
The immediate cause of the violence was not clear, as the chaos temporarily halted the ongoing electoral process.
The incident comes as voters come out in their numbers to partake in governorship election amid tight security.
Osun Election: Accord Defeats APC in Omisore’s Polling Unit
Osun election: Oyinlola Loses Polling Unit to Accord Party
Osun election: INEC officials take to their heels as violence erupts in Ejigbo
-
News22 hours agoUS missionary kidnapped in Niger released after nine months in captivity
-
News22 hours agoAdeleke camp condemns release of APC Assembly candidate allegedly found with gun
-
News22 hours agoASUU decries unpaid 2022 salaries, demands education review
-
News22 hours agoOsun 2026: Davido fires back at critics, says ‘I’ll be on ground before 7am’
-
News22 hours ago2027: Atiku asks court to disqualify Tinubu over names, certificate controversy
-
News22 hours agoCourt remands ex-NBA chairman in DSS custody
-
Metro22 hours agoBandits abduct 14 passengers travelling from Enugu to Abuja
-
News17 hours agoOsun decides: Ahead today’s poll, police dogs deployed to combat thugs
Warning: Undefined variable $user_ID in /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49
You must be logged in to post a comment Login