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| Last Updated: Jan 19th, 2012 - 11:25:19 |
Rule of Law & Good Governance
Dr Jonathan sues for improved grassroots administration
Mar 6, 2010, 16:24
| | Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has stressed the need for Local Government administration to be strengthened, noting that strong structures at the grassroots impact significantly at the national level.
He stated this on Saturday March 6 when he received in audience former President of Ghana, Mr. Jerry Rawlings, who led a delegation of executives of the Commonwealth Local Governments Forum on courtesy visit, in Aguda House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Dr. Jonathan said “The growth of a nation stems from growth at the grassroots. If we have good leaders at the Local Councils, then it is brought to bear on the national and continental levels,” he stated.
Dr. Jonathan used the occasion to congratulate Ghana on its 52nd Independence Anniversary today. He said the fact that several African countries including Nigeria are celebrating the golden jubilee anniversary of their Independence this year, is a call for African renaissance. “As Africans, we have to leave our past behind us and move the continent forward,” he stated
He praised Mr. Rawlings for his leadership roles in Ghana and on the African continent, while urging him not to relent.
Mr Rawlings, who is in Nigeria for the Pan-African Assembly of the United Cities and Local Governments, a global organization, congratulated Acting President Jonathan on his assumption of office, saying “I wish you the best and God’s strength, and same for the people of Nigeria. We are happy with the peace and stability in Nigeria, and we want it to continue.”
He said the grassroots administration conference is on African development and stable electoral processes at the grassroots, while expressing optimism that resolutions from the parley will be imbibed by African leaders.
Speaking with correspondents after the meeting, Mr Rawlings kicked against forceful accession to power on the African continent. He said, “I think we’ve gone past that stage. We can have constitutional, peaceful revolutions in the continent. Nigeria has the structures and institutions to provide solutions to its problems.”
Mr. Rawlings was accompanied by Carl Wright, Secretary General of the Commonwealth Local Governments Forum and Hon. Adolf Mwesige, Minister of Local Government Affairs in Uganda.
Also present on the Nigerian side were Minister of Interior, Shettima Mustapha, Minister of State for Works and Housing, Mrs. Grace Ekpiwhre, and Presidential aides.
© Copyright 2012 nigeriafirst.org
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