Ex-Dep Governors Canvass Moral Re-engineering In Nigeria

The Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria (FFDGN) has charted a new path to reconnect government with citizens, calling for moral re-engineering and a renewed social contract to bridge Nigeria’s widening disconnect between leadership and citizens.

The call was made on Tuesday at the 5th National Conference of the Forum, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel in Abuja, with the theme: “Rethinking Nation-Building: Bridging the Leadership-Citizen Disconnect Through Orientation,

Attitude, Character, Culture and Tradition for Sustainable Development.”

National Chairman, FFDGN, Dr Chris Alozie Akomas, in his welcome address, said the theme cuts to the core of Nigeria’s existential struggle. He noted that the disconnect pervades government, institutions, society, community and family.

“Policies do not transform a nation, people do. Budgets do not build a society, character does,” Akomas said.

He added: “A nation is never rescued by its government alone; it is saved by the conscience of its people,” urging leaders to embrace accountability and citizens to drive change from households, classrooms and communities.

Similarly, the Director-General, Hon. Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, FFDGN, said the Forum has evolved into a non-partisan strategic partner for good governance.

“The Forum works steadfastly to promote the interests of our members irrespective of political inclinations, evolving into a key strategic partner in advancing the cause of good governance across Nigeria,” he said.

He said the Forum is worried about the rising gap: “We are deeply concerned that the disconnect between leadership and our citizens is alarmingly on the rise.
We must mirror society to our leaders and decisively halt current decadence.”

Also speaking, the grand Patron, FFDGN, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, represented by former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala James Ngilari, commended the Forum for sustaining reflection and collaboration. Drawing from his experience as deputy governor, governor, vice president and president, he said governance is about strong institutions.

“Nigeria must always be greater than any political party, individual or sectional interest,” Jonathan said.

He reminded colleagues that “Political office is temporary, but the consequence of our decisions can endure for generations,” charging them to mentor young leaders.

For his part, former Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, questioned the strength of democratic institutions and decried the lack of continuity between predecessors and successors, even within the same party.

“I wonder in this country who will reform the judiciary because the person who will reform the judiciary is also afraid of the judiciary because he is also using the judiciary,” he said.

He added: “The absence of continuity undermines consolidation, which is essential for sustainable development.”

Keynote Speaker Prof. Jerry Gana, in his paper “Rethinking Nation-Building for Sustainable Development: Bridging the Leadership/Citizenship Disconnect,” stressed the importance of value-based leadership.

“Good governance requires leaders who promote peace and security, uphold the rule of law and demonstrate courage to make difficult decisions,” Gana said.

He noted: “No leader can achieve meaningful results without a competent and principled inner circle.”

Co-Chairman, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, said there is a gulf between policy formulation and citizens’ everyday lives, weakening the social contract.

“Nation building can only succeed when leaders and citizens operate in the same world – a social contract built on trust, accountability, inclusion, and shared responsibility,” he said.

He added: “Our diversity, which ordinarily should have been a source of strength, has rather become a permanent basis for exclusion, disunity and injustice.”

However, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, represented by Ali Muhammad Ali, MD, NAN, said that trust is built on results.

“Trust grows when promises are matched by results,” he said, citing NELFund and the MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund’s N140 billion disbursement for 2,018 mortgages across 27 states as of August 2026 and the planned $1bn Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme.

He warned: “National development depends on confronting dishonesty, ethnic prejudice, religious intolerance and abuse of public office.”

Former Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, the Chairman of the Occasion, said that policies work only when they are understood and trusted.

“Public confidence is essential to effective governance; policies achieve results when citizens understand them, consider them fair and trust those implementing them,” Masari said.

He urged: “Leaders must listen, explain decisions, accept legitimate criticism and correct mistakes.”