Nigerians Must Be Re-Educated On Politics – Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged Nigerian professionals to get into politics to ensure sustainable national development.

He revealed this as he delivered the 3rd University of Lagos, Faculty of Engineering Alumni Lecture in Lagos and the topic he spoke on was ”Professionals in Politics: Panacea for Sustainable National Development.”

He begged professionals to accept their political nature because politics is a huge part of everyday life.

His words, “One of the penalties for declining to take part in politics is that people end up being governed by those inferior to them.

“Politics in Nigeria definitely needs more professionals, more ‘outsiders’, not less.

“Politics thrives best in the face of diversity; different professional callings bringing different skill-sets and perspectives to the table.

”If we complain that it is politics that has robbed Nigeria of many opportunities in its history then we must also be willing to concede that it is politics that will redeem us and set things right.

”Nigeria’s development will not happen outside of politics and political activity.”

”I believe that we must reclaim the word ‘politics from negativity’. It is often given a negative coloration that it does not deserve, and that is misleading.

”As many people as want to go into partisan politics must be encouraged to do so.

“We must stop seeing people as ”sell-outs” when they choose to fly the flag of partisan politics.

”We must acknowledge the power that politics has to shape our lives and our societies for good or ill. It is arguably the most potent tool that exists for influencing the course of a society.

”We owe, to a great extent, our happiness or unhappiness to the way politics is played on our behalf.

”We must educate ourselves about the way politics is played in our society – from the smallest level all the way to the top.”