Nigerian politicians have been called upon to give more priority to nation building than self centeredness.

The Vice Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu made the called at the Nineth National Conference of the Department of History and International Studies held at the University Auditorium.

He urged politicians on to come together irrespective of ethnic and political affiliations to make Nigeria a better place to live.

The Conference is with the theme: “Power, Authority and Governance: Some Critical Challenges in the Post 2023 General Elections.

Professor Abu Kasim Adamu explained that while general elections are over and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed as the winner at the Supreme Court, there is the need for all political stakeholders to come together to finetune ways of moving the country forward.

The Vice Chancellor noted that with Nigeria facing a lot of challenges like general insecurity, poverty, food insecurity, infrastructural decay, education, health and other sectors that needed urgent attention, success will not be achieved without cooperation and contributions from all the relevant stakeholders.

In his welcome remarks the Head of Department of History and International Studies, Dr. Mamman Saba Abdulkadir highlighted the importance of the theme of the conference, saying Nigeria is passing through a challenging period since inception of the present democratic experience, 1999 to 2023 which requires the academia to take stock of milestone and challenges to chart out new ways.

He added that Nigeria is moving very close to a failed state scenario where the country leaders time and again neglect stewardship of public food in favor of zero sum political games and accumulation of personal and family wealth.

He also qouted the premier of Northern Region, late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto who summed up the essence of government as “A government has no business of being a government if it is not built on an acceptable constitution that protect the rights, life and property of it citizens, guaranteed the rule of law and provides greater happiness among the greater numbers of the people”.

In his presentation the Keynote Speaker the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare x-rayed the 2023 elections as one of the most competitive presidential elections in the history of Nigeria, adding that power, authority and governance constitute the tripod upon which the destiny of nation rest.

He said that Nigeria faced serious challenges during and after the 2023 general elections, maintaining that the nineth conference of historians and social science scholars would explore the situation with the academic rigour.

Also in his presentation the Lead Speaker, Professor Abubakar Sadeeque Abba, a professor of Political Economy & Development Studies, Conflict Ology and Alternative Paradigms,
Department of Political Science & International Relations, University of Abuja, said the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant, followers cannot be mere consumers of good governance; they must be participants and co-creators.

He added that power Is a means to an end, not an end in itself. That power is a tool for, and an instrument of self glorification, Power, in Nigeria is a road/journey, not a destination.

Professor Abba said Post-election periods can provide opportunities for strengthening democratic institutions, such as electoral commissions, judiciary, and regulatory bodies. However, he said this also poses a challenge as it requires concerted efforts to ensure the independence, transparency, and efficiency of these institutions like Electoral Commission, Judiciary, Media and Citizens, thereby reinforcing the democratic process and upholding the rule of law.

He also said a change in government can create uncertainty in the business and investment sectors, potentially leading to economic challenges such as market fluctuations, decreased investor confidence, and policy paralysis, which can negatively impact on the overall economic stability of the country.

He explained that the Post-election periods often necessitate efforts to promote social cohesion and reconciliation, particularly in situations where the electoral process has exacerbated social divisions which may require initiatives to promote dialogue, understanding, and compromise among different factions within society.