Politics
THE Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has called for the emulation of values exhibited by the country’s founding fathers.
Idris urged Nigerrians to imbibe and practice patriotism and nationalism demonstrated by the trio of Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello; Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe at independence.
Idris gave the charge when a delegation from the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation led by former governor of Kano State, Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau, paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the minister, the founding fathers of the country laid good foundation, adding that it is regrettable that most Nigerians cannot simulate the virtues they represent in our lives.
“The erosion of the values of Sardauna almost 60 years is very worrisome. At that time, each region presented their very best and there was a healthy competition amongst them for the development of their regions and country at large.
“Awolowo, Azikiwe and Bello represented Western, Eastern and Northern regions, respectively. They exist to enhance their respective regions.
“What we are seeing today is the gradual erosion of the values of those founding fathers. Thus, Sardauna Foundation is an attempt to recreate those values that he put out almost 60 years ago.
“When we were young, any time our leaders are passing, we hold and wave the Nigerian flags. That feeling of patriotism and nationhood has been lost.
“That is why President Bola Tinubu christined the ministry as Ministry of Information and National Orientation so that those values that have gone away will be recalled,” Idris said.
He therefore called on citizens to retrace their steps and imbibe the values of our founding fathers, so that the country could be great again.
The minister explained that each region of the country has resources and potentials to make the country great.
“We need to use our different potential to actually do the needful.”
“What the Foundation is doing is what the present administration aims to do. We hope that by the end of this administration, one will be able to recreate and restore the confidence on governance,” Idris said.
Earlier, Shekarau said the foundation recognised the ministry as an important platform through which to deliver its contributions to the nation.
According to him, the foundation takes education seriously and sees it as a great vehicle of change, revealing this as the reason for their interest in the sector.
“We commissioned a study on the status of education in the Northern states.
“And now that the report is ready, we wish to share its findings at a National Conference on Education billed for Oct. 10, where all agencies and stakeholders in education will attend,” he said.
Shekarau presented copies of the report of the study to the minister. (NAN)
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October 4, 2023 @ 21:29 GMT|
Tags: Alhaji Mohammed Idris
