Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh (SAN), and a lawyer, Professor Sebastine Hon (SAN), have advocated the need for leaders to prioritise citizens’ welfare in the developmental efforts of governments at all levels.
Governor Yusuf, Alegeh, and Hon said that while governments needed to deploy the state’s resources for the development of physical infrastructure, good leaders should be able to combine such a requirement with meeting citizens’ immediate needs.
They spoke in Abuja on Saturday night at this year’s edition of The Creed magazine’s Annual Dinner and Awards, held under the theme: “Law & Society: Leadership, Infrastructural Development, Pursuit of Good Governance.”
Governor Yusuf, who was named the Governor of the year, commended those behind the award, particularly the magazine’s Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, John Austin Unachukwu, for providing such a platform that recognises those making positive impacts in society.
Represented by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude (SAN), the Kano governor highlighted his administration’s achievements in all sectors and promised to do more.
He noted that the theme of the event “mirrors the central philosophy guiding our administration – that leadership must be responsible, development must be people-centered, and governance must be transparent and just.
“In every society, the law serves as the foundation upon which peace, order, and development are built. When law functions effectively and fairly, society thrives; when law is weakened, every other sector suffers.
“As leaders, we are constantly reminded that governance must be anchored on justice, fairness, and accountability. The law defines our limitations, guides our responsibilities, and ensures that the government remains a servant of the people,” he said.
Governor Yusuf added, “In the last few years, we have made deliberate efforts to strengthen the justice sector because a society that seeks development must first entrench justice.
“Through the Ministry of Justice, we initiated wide-ranging reforms to ensure that justice is accessible to all citizens regardless of status, income level, or background.
“We recognized that prolonged detentions, delayed trials, and poor access to legal representation weaken public trust and undermine the rule of law.
“That is why the urgent review of prolonged detention in custodial centres was launched, an intervention that revealed deeply troubling cases of inmates who had spent years behind bars without trial, without case files, and sometimes without legal representation,” Governor Yusuf said.
Represented by Paul Ogbole (SAN), Alegeh, who was the Chairman of the event, commended the efforts of The Creed magazine, which he said has been to document the nation’s development in the areas of legal and political developments, while emphasising people-centred leadership and policy formulation.
Alegeh hailed the publisher’s initiative of utilising his knowledge of legal and journalism “as instruments for national cohesion and development by focusing on the deployment of law and political powers for the benefit of the people.”
Hon, who was the keynote speaker, said it was incumbent on any responsible government to apply the law to develop critical infrastructure to positively impact the lives of its people, particularly at the grassroots.
The Law Professor, who commended the Kano State Governor for his impact in the area of infrastructure development, cautioned that the need for physical infrastructure development should be combined with the welfare of the people.
He said, “Even if you build all the roads, the bridges, the skyscrapers, and all similar physical structures, and your citizens are hungry, then there could be some revolts.
“So, leaders and rulers should be careful in the way they apply public resources. When you build all the physical infrastructure, let the people also have food on their tables,” Hon said.
Unachukwu explained that the choice of the Kano State governor as the Governor of the Year was because of his administration’s efforts in the areas of social and infrastructural development in his state.
He said, “The dinner and awards are to recognise and appreciate people who have made tremendous contributions to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria.”
