Lagos — Former Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad , yesterday in Lagos, stated that a country in turmoil would not be able to develop .

Mohammad was the keynote speaker at the 11th session of the Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe lecture series titled, 'To Live in the Way that Honours: Incorruptibility; a Spiritual Premise for Material Wellbeing', held at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos .

He said: "It is important therefore that the causes of a nation's instability be identified and removed from the ethnicity and culture of the people."

Speaking on the theme, 'Corruption, State, Craft and National Development,' Mohammad gave insights into how he steered through the socio-political and economic dynamics in Malaysia, transcending the labyrinth of the corruptive and achieving enviable heights for the country and her people.

Taking the Nigerian situation into consideration, the former Malaysian Prime Minister said equality in power sharing and respect for different religions and cultures must be maintained in the country. He said when this is achieved, attention should be directed at national development, which should revolve around adopting policy of the promoting the business sector.

"It is essential to involve the private sector because this particular sector is not always only conscious about profit making but also about paying back borrowed money as well as affecting the society in which they operate," he said.

The private sector therefore, he advised, must be provided with efficient service and laden with financial supports by the government, adding, "There should therefore be a cordial relationship between the government and the private sector."

Mohammad said further that for there to be development, there must be provision of infrastructure such as roads, transportation, water, electricity, schools and so on.

All these, he said, apart from bringing about development, will also create jobs for the people as well as support the springing up of more businesses in the country.