Ingredients of good governance, by Fayemi - By Dayo Johnson

Akure—MINISTER of Mineral Resources and Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi yesterday identified justice, rule of law and true federalism as panacea to peace and good governance.


Fayemi said this while delivering a lecture titled: “Justice and Fairness as Panacea for Peace” at the 10th Anniversary Memorial lecture in honour of the former governor of Ondo state, Late Chief Adebayo Adefarati in Akure.

According to him; “Democracy does not necessarily guarantee good governance and peace within any society but said  democracy can only be achieved and sustained within a system that is predicated on justice.

Speaking through the former Head of Service in Ekiti state, Mr. Bunmi Famusaya, Fayemi said; “It will be instructive to set a point-of-departure with the understanding that in the very complex environment within which we function, democracy – in itself – does not necessarily guarantee good governance and peace.

”It has to be fundamentally anchored to the moorings of justice, and cognate indices including the rule of law, a fair and sound electoral process, and an equitable system of resource allocation and distribution across the various tiers and levels of government in Nigeria.”

“While it can be said that the most important, if not ultimate, goal of systems that are put in place to organise society – such as democracy – is to attain the objective of peace, this can mainly be achieved and sustained within a framework that is essentially predicated on justice.

“Our very traditional understanding of the notion of ‘justice’, as pertaining to democracy, is based on a legal conception associated with electoral legitimacy, the effectiveness of constitutional guarantees in society, and other aspects of the rule of law.”

The minister also identified injustice and disaffection as one of the problems confronting the Nigeria as a nation saying those entrusted with authority have used their custodianship of state instruments and resources to remorselessly violate the public interest.

He noted that the late Adefarati believed in justice as one of the primary conditions for ensuring peace which inspired the participation of the late former governor struggle against military rule and the restoration of the annulled June 12 Presidential election.

Fayemi attributed Adefarati belief to his deep believe in Awoist progressive tradition which he said has faded away from the consciousness of the millennial generation.

Vanguard News