Gen .Olu Bajowa expresses optimism for a better Nigeria
– Steve Ovirih.
The Jagunmolu of Ikale Land and Ojagbulegun of the source, Gen Olu Bajowa has expressed the opinion that the teething challenges the country is facing will soon become history.
The retired Army General shared this patriotic optimism on the occasion of his 79th birthday which was celebrated in London, United Kingdom. Without mincing words, Gen. Bajowa noted that while it was obvious that Nigeria is passing through difficult times, the economic and political challenges will fade out in the course of time.
He noted Nigeria has all it takes to weather economy challenges, stressing that part of our challenge is the expensive cost of governance in the country. He therefore called for the devolution of power so that in a way , the cost of governance can be reduced.
” Nigeria is endowed both with human and natural resources she required to be the giant of Africa and indeed the black race. The only major problem of the country since Independence has been leadership challenge and this has made the country to come behind other independent nations like Malaysia,” Bajowa maintained.
While stressing the fact that he does not share the prophecy of doom propounded in certain quarters about the continued existence of Nigeria, Gen. Bajowa said, “our problems today are self imposed; our founding fathers fashioned for this country a constitution that is based on federalism. The incursion of the military into Nigerian politics which was an aberation deviated from the grand norm and imposed a unitary system of government for a country of multi – ethnic groups like Nigeria.
“As at now, Nigeria operates the most powerful and expensive presidency in the world contrary to the Presidential Democracy practised in the United States of America where the President is a lion in a cage , whereas in our own type of Presidential Democracy, the presidency is a lion outside the cage.”
The Ojagbulegun of Ayeka kingdom therefore added his voice to the campaign on Devolution of Power, noting that while it will help to cut the cost of governance, it will also drastically reduce corruption in governance. ” We need to devolve power otherwise corruption would continue to fester at an exponential rate ,” Gen. Bajowa maintained.
On his 79th birthday celebration, Gen Bajowa was full of praises and thanksgiving to God Almighty for his love and protection over his life all these years. He said his wish to the all knowing God now is for God to be benevolent to him and bless him with good health to celebrate his 80th birthday thesame time in 2020.
While thanking his wife, the Regent of Ayeka kingdom, Her Royal Highness Oluyemi Bajowa for her love and tender loving care, Gen Bajowa advised his children not to lose hope in the Nigerian project, noting that Nigeria is God’s own project and God’s great plan for Nigeria cannot falter. He charged his children to continue to be of good character and be loyal citizens of Nigeria, stressing that Nigeria is the only country they have.
