A statement issued by the Country Director of the foundation, Professor Yemi Ola, noted that “President Muhammadu Buhari has returned the key to good governance back to Nigerians who must now leverage it to demand accountability from the current and subsequent governments.”
The statement stressed that the previous models whereby those in office dictated the national direction without input from the populace had resulted in the demise of too many promising initiatives and that the ‘Change Begins With Me’ has promises to thrive as a national movement.
It said: “We must now as conscientious Nigerians improve on the way we do things so that those in office have no option than to follow the dominant mind set and prevailing national attitude that would arise from such.
“The less than optimistic reception to this campaign from a few quarters is understandable considering that many Nigerians have never known of a well articulated national ethos for their entire lifetime. Those who have such mind set must however, realise that this is an opportunity they must snap up as there may not be another government that would leave citizens with the initiative for change in the immediate future.
“By cashing in on this invitation to drive the change Nigeria needs, we would be able to set standards for those in public office in accordance with the personal benchmarks we are willing to impose on ourselves in our individual capacities. The major task therefore is for us to do critical stock taking that will ensure we upgrade our national psyche to beat even the best of global standards.
“We therefore urge Nigerians to leverage on the ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign and use the changes in their personal lives to set agenda for the three tiers and three arms of government. “They must insist that those in government, being Nigerians too, must not act of live at variance with what is applicable to other citizens.
“We however, task those in government to be prepared to implement the kind of change citizens are willing to implement at personal level based on the suggestions by the campaign. Our citizens have high and demanding standards that are capable of turning the fortunes of the nation around when implemented with commitment.”
•Photo shows President Buhari.
