He said that the choices and decisions taken by Nigerians in the forthcoming general election would either make or mar the steady evolution of the nation’s democracy.
Igali said that 2022 has a lot of significance since it is the year for all political parties to produce their flagbearer and hold a special importance to the 2023 general election which he said will be ‘a major watershed for the country’.
He, however, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Federal Government to ensure better preparation for 2023 general election, saying, ‘the process of going through an election is like most other journeys in human existence and planning’.
Igali who is the current Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), said, ‘There is need for proper planning, understanding the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead and more importantly, proffering solutions to issues that present themselves in a timely manner.
‘Accordingly, the choices and decisions which we take in various sphere, particularly pertaining to politics and recruitment into governance will make or mar the steady evolution of our democracy and the overall nation building process which we are all critic’, he said.
Delivering a lecture on the topic, “2023 General Elections and Security Challenges”, former Minister of Education (State), Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, blamed the media largely for the spate of societal decay including state of insecurity.
He said that journalists must redefine the core value of the profession and ensure that the polity is plunged of negativity.
He said, ‘I hold journalists largely responsible for moral decadent, spate of ritual killings, bribery, bad governance and insecurity because journalists have failed in their duty as watchdog of the society.
“Unless we say the truth to ourselves, we will be wasting our time. The bad, the good and the ugly that is allowed to happen in our time is in the hands of the journalists, he said.
