Join politics or stop blaming others, El-Rufai tells professionals.

The Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai on Tuesday asked members of professional bodies such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and other related bodies to join politics rather than blaming those currently at the helm of affairs in the country.

El-Rufai said the country would be better off if professionals took over the reins of governance rather than allowing those looking for a way to survive in government.

The governor stated this while addressing over 4,000 Pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, who converged on Kaduna for the 92nd Annual National Conference on Tuesday.

The event which had as its theme: "Navigating the winds of change in professional practice in a volatile economy" took place at the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex, Kaduna.

While addressing the gathering, el-Rufai quoting the great philosopher, Plato, noted that the danger that would befall the country was when good people abandoned politics for others whom he described as "thugs" and those seeking for "survival" to take over the government.

He urged professionals in Tue country to participate in politics rather than those currently in power of not performing up to expectations.

According to him, professionals going into politics, will no doubt ensure better governance and development in the country.

The governor said, "I want to use this opportunity to preach something that I feel is important. Here we have over 4,000 or 8,000 pharmacists and I just wondered how many of you are members of any political party or how many of you have contested election or considering contesting elections.

"My point exactly: Plato, the famous Greek Philosopher wrote about 5,000 years ago that the danger we face when good people run away from politics is that we will end up being governed by worst people. I think that is largely the story of Nigeria.

"I think it is important as part of the Nigerian elite because all of you here are privileged people - educated and you are professionals, comfortable, if not rich and you have the influence. You ought to be interested in politics and if you are not, then, don't blame the thugs when they take over your state and run down your state.

"And if 36 thugs take over the 36 states and run down the 36 states, Nigeria will be down.

"Most of Nigeria problems - the day - to - day problems that affected the ordinary Nigerians can be solved at the state level, not the President's problems. Primary education, secondary education, and universal healthcare coverage are all state and local government issues.

"If we have better and better governors, we will have better and more progress in these areas. I am not saying that all governors are bad neither nor am I suggesting that I am good or anyone good. Our result will be out there for you to judge.

"All that I am saying is that you must take an interest. When Prof. Patrick Utomi came out to contest governor in his state, he was alone. There aren't many people like you around him. So, he got ran over and I think Delta State lost maybe Nigeria game. So, my appeal to you is that professionals must be interested in politics.

"You don't have to be contesting for an office you can just be part of the political system. You can be in political party as a member, you can choose to contest for the leadership of the party in your ward, local government or your state and in that position, you can have a say on who becomes a candidate representing your locality or your state and you may even have a say who becomes the president.

"You can just decide you want to support a candidate...even if you are not interested in politics but your money on someone who you think can provide leadership; someone with an address, not someone looking for a way to survive."

Earlier, a Professor of Political Economy and management expert, Prof. Pat Utomi who gave the keynote address at the event, said the Nigerian economy was moving two steps forward and six steps backward because of weak institutions in the country, adding that for the country to leap forward, there was need for human capital development which he noted was more than "tarring the roads."

He added that healthcare and education remain fundamental to any nation the world over and once the country could get these two sectors rights, Nigeria would all things right.

According to him, the fact that some drugs are still coming from countries like India and Indonesia is an indication that the country is yet to get it right.

"Human progress begins with healthcare and education," he said.

Utomi also noted that the failure of the corporate class not to assert their views on how the country should be was partly responsible for the current state the Nigerian nation found itself.

He insisted that unless the various institutions in the country were right, the economy would not grow, saying, however, that "we can dream a new Nigeria and make it happen."

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health, Senator Olurunnimbe Mamora while commending the PSN on its 92nd Annual Conference, said the fluctuation of the foreign exchange rate in the economy led to the present sorry state of the pharmaceutical industry.

He noted that the pharmaceutical sector in an economy plays a vital role in the general health of the citizens.

The Minister said, "It is common knowledge that the exchange rate and its volatility are critical factors that influence economic activities in Nigeria. And the foreign exchange factors and fluctuation have always attracted considerable attention in economic and statistic literature.

"There have been extensive volatility of the Naira in the exchange rate and causing inflation in Nigeria since the adoption of the flexible exchange rate regime in 1986. Consequently, this has led to a currency crisis, distortion of production patterns."