A retired professor from the Department of Sociology, University of Jos, Professor Etannibi E. O. Alemika, says, the crises of development and security in Nigeria were as a result of growing governance failure and government decline in its responsiveness and performance in our country.
He sated this recently while delivering his Valedictory Lectures and Public Presentation of a book in his honour, held at the conference hall of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The Professor said, “Nigeria has been embroiled in a lingering deepening of underdevelopment and insecurity. The crises of development and security in the country are due to governance and government failures caused by labyrinth of forces that are interwoven and caused by anomie.
Nigeria’s potential for mobilisation towards development and security is impaired by wide disagreement over virtually all issues except unrestrained and obsessive wealth acquisition and ostentatious lifestyle not predicated on industry and hardworking.
“I argue that growing governance failure and progressive decline in government’s responsiveness and performance in Nigeria, are consequences of growing disruptive, dysfunctional and discordant value priorities since the late 1970s”, he enthused.
According to the celebrant, ” major manifestations of development and and security crises in the country since the late 1970s include militarism, authoritarianism, impunity, shrinking access to public goods and services; economic distortion and decline; poverty; collective aggression, violence and crimes.
“These conditions are primarily the consequences of an authoritarian and illiberal government that rules without consultation and accountability, indices of bad governance. These tendencies significantly resulted from expungement of norms, rules and processes that promote an effective, responsive and accountable public service sector”, Alemika observed.
Earlier, the Head of Sociology Department, Dr. Gimba H. Dikop, described the lecture as timely following reports of challenges this country was facing today, because our values were the driving force of every development and should be taken seriously.
The representative of the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Gideon Goshit, describes the celebrant as an erudite scholar that his presence alone could make the baby department grow. He appealed that he should be retained even if it means on contract.
Meanwhile, Book Reviewer, Professor Pam Dung Sha, of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, said that lack of good value system has been the major cause of herders/farmers clashes that have now metamorphosed to kidnapping and banditry, hence the need to pay more attention to our criminal justice system.
However, one of the last PhD Generation Students of Professor Etannibi E. O. Alemika, Dr. Plangshak Musa Suchi, described the celebrant as a father, mentor and someone who has impacted a lot in him and would be greatly missed. He promised to use what he has garnered from the Professor for the betterment of the society.
