Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has expressed concern over the state of politics in Nigeria, blaming the involvement of “quack” politicians for driving the country into poverty.
Speaking during the 2024 Teens Career Conference, themed ‘The Power of Music,’ organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)–The Everlasting Arm Parish in Abuja, Duke highlighted the declining standards in Nigerian politics, which he attributed to individuals who view politics as a means of livelihood rather than public service.
Duke emphasised the role of politics in creating hope and a better future for Nigerian youths, urging the political class to restore the country’s image by embracing politics as a noble vocation.
He stated, “Hope is an eternal, effervescent power to create hope in the young ones that their tomorrow will be better than today, just as their today ought to have been better than yesterday.
“Politics could be the most elevating vocation, but a lot of quacks are involved in it right now, so they have brought it down to the lowest level. When politics is right, it elevates everything. It elevates medicine. It elevates your livelihood. When we complain about the country not being good, it is the politicians.
“So if you have the right politicians, we will have the right country; so, it is the most nobles of vocations, but unfortunately full of quacks,” he added.
He also called on the government to address the energy crisis, which he cited as a key factor behind the country’s high inflation rate. Duke suggested converting gas flaring to support the economy as part of the solution.
The event’s host, Pastor Eva Azodoh, underscored the importance of role models for young Nigerians, explaining that the conference aimed to connect teenagers with individuals who exemplify hard work, integrity, and success.
“We wanted to have people who have, by hard work and integrity, achieved what they have achieved in life so that people can look at them and know that by hard work and honest hard work and integrity, you can succeed.
“That is the purpose; you can see the former governor of Cross River. We received one of our best clergies in the RCCG, Kenneth Ozioma, and look at that 15-year-old boy, Damilade Adepegba, who you can see that he has talent, but he has worked hard to achieve what he has, and that is the purpose of this conference.
“You do not have to be a deviant to become a role model; run around half naked or dress in all sorts of manner; neither do you have to become a deviant because you have succeeded,” he noted.
(NAN)
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