The Deputy Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Ibadan, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, has said Nigerians currently need genuine hope before the “Renewed Hope” agenda being promoted by the administration of President Bola Tinubu can be meaningful.
Ayorinde made the remark on Sunday shortly after an Easter service held at the Cathedral of St. James the Great, Oke Bola, Ibadan, where he spoke on the state of the nation and the expectations of citizens.
The senior advocate, who also serves as Chairman of the Oyo State Advisory Council, noted that the prevailing socio-economic realities in the country have made life increasingly difficult for many Nigerians.
He said what the country urgently requires is a leadership approach that prioritises empathy and responsiveness to the plight of the masses.
According to him, governance must be driven by a human face, stressing that policies and development efforts should directly impact the welfare of ordinary citizens.
Ayorinde lamented that governance in Nigeria appears to be dominated by politics at the expense of meaningful engagement with the people.
He added that many Nigerians are dissatisfied with the current situation, urging citizens and stakeholders to hold leaders accountable for their actions and decisions.
“Right now, we need hope first. Things are hard, we need our leaders to be more sensitive to the plight of the people we need to have a human face in governance, in development.”
The legal luminary called for increased scrutiny of public office holders, noting that leaders must be made to answer critical questions about governance and service delivery.
He emphasised the need for improved transparency and responsibility in leadership, saying such measures are essential for national progress.
On insecurity, Ayorinde described the situation as worrisome, adding that government response has often been inadequate and lacking in sustained commitment.
He criticised what he termed as superficial reactions by leaders to security incidents, urging authorities to demonstrate greater seriousness in protecting lives and property across the country.
“The spate of insecurity is worrisome, there’s no govt involvement in the lives of the people , its more than an incident happening and leaders going there to visit for five, ten minutes and then nothing happens. Our leaders should show more seriousness and commitment in securing the lives of the citizens.”
