Victor Ezeja
Professor of Political Economy and Founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, Pat Utomi, has explained why he and other patriotic Nigerians formed The New Tribe of Patriots.
According to Utomi, The New Tribe of Patriots is a social movement geared towards values reorientation. He said that Nigeria has all the potential to be a great nation but the lack of shared moral values that guide the actions of leaders and citizens has remained the cause of underdevelopment in the country as corruption and mismanagement at every level continue to fester.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelUtomi made this known during the formal launch of The New Tribe of Patriots on Tuesday, October 1, in Lagos.
He remarked that Nigeria is a country of great potential marking its 64th “birthday” (independence) yet “still crawling,” like a baby in terms of development. He noted with concern that it is paradoxical that Nigeria has many of its citizens who are renowned professionals doing well in various sectors in foreign countries yet it remains stagnant in development.
He said all the things longed for to make the country great are unlikely to come if the narrative does not change. For the narrative to change, he said, there is a need for value re-orientation.
The New Tribe (TNT), according to Utomi, is “a movement of Nigerians committed to personal integrity, inclusion, and the dignity of all, work ethics and a spirit of service that enkindles the John F Kennedy’s mantra of ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.”
He explained that the group “invokes the view that values shape human progress in seeking to bring talents, in a non-partisan action for impact engagement, to use, to pull off a values re-orientation in the country so progress can be assured.”
The group whose portal (thenewtribe.ng) was launched on May 1, has 14 cohorts with each having a specific area of value creation including health, rational public conversation, education, public accountability, community, the Diaspora for change, election reform, freedom of expression, and peace building. Others are African trade, constitution reform, and production and economic growth among others.
Utomi said the movement recognises that Nigerians in the Diaspora have significant roles to play in building a new Nigeria. He called on Nigerians with like minds to join the movement to fight corruption and other vices that have held the country down. “We have talked enough. It is time for action based on love of neigbour and country and a profound sense that Nigeria will rise up again,” he added.
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In his remarks, Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said the TNT is a beautiful initiative that will help to propagate right values needed to move the country forward.
Dr Yunusa stressed that when the people find out why there is a leadership problem, then getting the solution will be easy.
A guest speaker at the event, Mr Soji Apampa, who spoke on public accountability, stressed that upholding right values is key to building a good foundation for national development.
Apampa, who co-founded the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) in 1995, said the input of all stakeholders including elders, traditional rulers and others are needed in the work of the New Tribe in the fight against corruption.
He stressed the need for collaboration among those coming together to create new “tribes” of people to project good values.
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He urged the people to see the need to hold those managing public offices accountable for every action to ensure that they are in line with public interest.
“We need a new tribe of people who would do the right thing,” Apampa emphasised, adding that it cuts across ethnicity and religion.
He hailed Professor Utomi for coming up with the TNT initiative, expressing his full support of the group. “I solidly subscribe to it because this is what we need to build a new Nigeria and to build the kind of leadership that is led by positive values,” Apampa added in a separate interview on the sideline of the event.
Other highlights of the event were signing of MoU on medical emergencies with three states in Nigeria, presentations by various cohorts on plans they have for respective sectors they are focusing on.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
