Nigeria will be a sane country if we strengthen our institutions, says Lai Omotola

Lai Omotola, chief executive officer of Confederated Facilitators Limited (CFL), says Nigeria will become a better country if the nation’s institutions are strengthened.

Speaking on Tuesday, in Lagos, Omotola said only strong institutions can boost the nation’s democracy.

Omotola announced the creation of the Africa Institutions Award (AIA) to recognise individuals who have fought to uphold and raise some institutions in the country from being bastadised.

He added that individuals nominated for the award will be vetted, while the public will decide who is eligible to clinch the awards. Omotola added that the organisers will not give in to external pressure in giving the award to people who are not fit for it.

“The essence of the Africa Institutions Award is to promote our institutions, people that have helped in building our institutions. We believe that we should be building institutions, not strong men. If our institutions can stand, our democracy will stand. The inability of our institution to stand properly is a recipe for disaster,” Omotola said.

“What are the institutions we are talking about? The judiciary, police, education, journalism, electoral body system and all that. Day by day, standards are being eroded in our faces. You’ll realise that even in America, the institutions were tested and they didn’t take it lightly.

“We want to dedicate time in December for the event. We are announcing that people should come up with names of people they believe have helped institutions. We want to promote our institutions so that nobody can rise above them; that way, Nigeria will be a sane country.”

Omotola, founder, Africa Institutions Award, also urged the judiciary not to give in to public opinion in deciding matters that affect the country.

“If everything must fail in this country, it shouldn’t be the judiciary system. Once the judiciary packs up, we are in for anarchy. The people heading the judiciary must be sacrosanct with the law,” he said.

“Today, our policing needs serious reforms. If our police system does not stand, Nigeria has no future. It is the police that upholds the law. But the police have deteriorated to a magnificent extent. Unless there is a concerted effort in rebuilding our institutions, people will start asking what essence is our democracy.”