Experts call for shift from politics to effective governance

 Experts across different fields have emphasized that Nigeria’s progress hinges on prioritizing good governance over political interests.

They stated that by prioritizing good governance, the country can better address pressing challenges such as poverty, insecurity, and infrastructure deficits, ultimately enhancing the well-being of its citizens and fostering a more stable and prosperous society.

They spoke in Ughelli, Delta State, at the second edition of the Advocate Publication Limited Annual Lecture Series, with the theme ‘Between governance and politics: The delicate balancing to ensure growth and development’.

In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Advocate Publication Limited, publishers of Advocate Newspaper, Shedrack Onitsha, noted that the lecture series was borne out of a desire to trigger vital conversations about the nation’s development.

Onitsha stressed that Nigeria cannot progress when leaders treat governance as a secondary concern.

We are disturbed by a trend where the obsession with political survival overshadows the responsibility of governance. Officeholders get sworn in and immediately begin preparing for the next election,” he said.

“We must begin to interrogate what value politics brings if it fails to deliver development. This platform is our contribution to nation-building—to inspire a reset in thinking and practice among our political leaders.”

Chairman of the event, Olorogun Austin Emaduku, described governance and politics as two forces that must operate in synergy.

“Governance is about policy implementation, while politics is about power dynamics. But if power is pursued without a governance agenda, the people suffer. We need to strike a balance that ensures both serve the national interest,” he said.

Emaduku argued that sustainable growth can only come when politics supports governance rather than obstructing it. “Strong institutions, ethical leadership, and active citizen engagement are necessary pillars for this balance,” he added, urging citizens not to be passive but to demand accountability.

Keynote speaker Prof. Abanum Ifelunini, a development economist, said Nigeria’s underdevelopment can largely be traced to the politicization of governance. “When short-term political interests take precedence over long-term planning, there can be no meaningful development. We must rethink politics and insist on responsible governance,” he advised.

Speaking to journalists after the event, Prof. Ifelunini further emphasized the need for continuity in economic policy and national planning. “Governance must not stop because politics is heating up. Politicians must understand that true leadership means looking beyond the next election,” he said.

In his intervention, moderator of the panel session and Executive Director, Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative, Amb. Pas Edewor Egedegbe, noted that citizens have a role to play in bridging the gap between politics and governance.

“Too many Nigerians only wake up during elections and go back to sleep afterward. Governance begins where politics ends — we must learn to hold leaders accountable all year round,” he said.

Egedegbe added that events like the lecture series were timely, especially with unfolding political developments in Delta State.

The relevance of this conversation cannot be overstated. Citizens must stop clapping for politicians who fail to deliver. Our silence is complicity,” he said.

Discussants at the event included Prof. Andrew Agboro, Amb. Stella Odika, and Emmanuel Enebeli. They echoed the need for electoral reforms, institutional strength, and public enlightenment to fix the imbalance between politics and governance.

As the session closed, the consensus was clear: Nigeria must recalibrate its leadership ethos. Politics should no longer be a game of survival but a tool to engineer lasting development. Governance, they said, must once again take its rightful place at the heart of leadership.