Obasanjo reveals how Nigeria can develop

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday said good governance
was the foundation upon which a society should be built, and for it to
develop.

He spoke while delivering a keynote address during the maiden event of
the Justice Oputa Annual Conference with the theme: Governance, law
and Development in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.

Obasanjo said without good governance, a society like Nigeria cannot
develop and neither will its people reach full potential or arrive
safely at their destination.

The former president stated that "at this critical period of our
national life, we must ensure that we have the right perspective,
making the right decision as a people.

"This will clarify where we want to go and how we intend to get there.

"If we have no clear picture of our destination, we may not even know
when we are lost,'' Obasanjo said.

He stated that the challenges facing every society was the ability to
strengthen institutions, processes and mechanisms that enable smooth
participation of citizens in setting agenda for sustainable
development.

"Good governance is also based on a conviction that a system placing
sovereignty in the hands of people is more likely to invest in people.

"Without such investments, poverty cannot be eliminated and
sustainable development cannot be achieved,'' he added.