President Bola Tinubu would soon launch a new campaign – “National Life Charter” – which would define patriotic Nigerians’ expectations and political leaders’ shortcomings.

Lanre Issa-Onilu, the director general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), stated this on Tuesday during a visit to the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi. 

Mr Issa-Onilu said the campaign – like a social contract would also spell out the duties and responsibilities of the political office holders to their followers. 

“So, the National Life Charter or National Value Charter is to institute a social contract where the citizens have certain expectations of the country, and the country can now say, these are the responsibilities that we want from you as Nigerians. 

“What President Bola Tinubu is saying is that we want patriotic Nigerians, good followers, but at the same time, the country must play its role, and this is not just going to be written in the book or constitution. It has to be well-spelt out. 

“So, as we are today, if you post the question to anybody who is a Nigerian? There is no clear definition of who a Nigerian is, and citizens from country to country aren’t the same. So, something must define us,” he said. 

According to him, Mr Tinubu would also unveil the National Value system, which would speak to the promises made by his government.

He, however, underscored the importance of the traditional rulers in society, reiterating that the government would continue to engage them with more roles irrespective of their grades to enrich societal core values. 

While noting that no nation can ignore the traditional institution, Mr Issa-Onilu said many countries have missed her way because it undermined their roles.

“Any country or tribe that ignored the role of the traditional institution will find itself where Nigeria has found itself, but it’s not too late to retrace our steps and go back to where,” he added.

In 2016, the Buhari government launched the “Change Begins With Me’’ campaign” to entrench the values of accountability, integrity and positive attitudinal change” in Nigerians.

The former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who launched the campaign on behalf of Mr Buhari, said the initiative aimed to educate and enlighten Nigerians to appreciate the key values needed for national development.

Despite the campaign, Mr Buhari’s government was tainted by records of abuses of human rights, police brutality, inflation, corruption, and abuse of office.