From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome and Senator Shehu Sani, yesterday, disagreed on the state of Nigeria, after 25 years of independence.
While Abubakar called for electoral integrity, human rights, economic development and social justice, Ozekhome said the country needed a new constitution to reflect the yearnings of Nigerians while Wike said the country has made progress against all odds, stating that citizens should focus on the positive side.
They spoke at the annual lecture and gold prize award of ThisNigeria Newspaper, with the theme: “25 years of Nigeria’s unbroken democracy: Prospects and possibilities” in Abuja. Abubakar, who was the Chairman of the occasion pointed out that the country must always nurture and preserve the country’s democracy
“As we embark on this moment, let us take a moment and reflect on the remarkable journey Nigeria has undertaken in the last half century. Twenty five years ago, in 1999, our nation embarked on a path of democracy and democratic governance, a path marked by aspirations, challenges and unwavering commitment to achieve justice and equality. In our journey over the past 25 years, we have faced political turbulence, economic fluctuation and social upheavals yet through it all, the Nigerian spirit has remained indomitable.
“We have shown that despite our differences, we are united in our commitment to building a nation that is inclusive, prosperous and democratic…Democracy, as we all know, is not merely a system of government, it is a testament to the will of the people. It represents our collective voice, our shared values and common aspiration.
“Despite the myriad of challenges that have come our way, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to upholding democratic idles.
“As we celebrate our achievements, it is equally important to acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. Democracy is an evolving process and the past 25 years has taught us that it requires constant nurturing and vigilance.
“This is just as electoral integrity, human rights, economic development and social justice remain critical areas that demand our collective attention and action,” Abdulsalami said. He was represented by Gen. Adamu Jeda (retd).
The guest speaker, Ozekhome, insisted that a new constitution should be birthed to reflect the will of the people.
“We need the people’s constitution. So, no tribe in Nigeria is to be seen or referred to as a dot in a cycle. Do not place Nigeria on a tripod. A tripod is never balanced. What do you do with the over 371 ethnic group? We should do away with political corruption, where people in government take the larger chunk. Nigerians are suffering. There is mass poverty. There is deprivation. There is anger in the land. Do not let your mind tell you something otherwise.”
During the panel discussion that had Senator Sani, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, and anchored by Dr Okey Ikechukwu, the former Rivers State governor, Wike, picked hole in the lecture, stating that Ozekhome failed to identify the gains of democracy but dwelled on the challenges.
“It will be wrong sitting here without correcting some impressions. First of all, we are talking about 25 years of democracy. We know we have challenges. I had expected the lecturer to speak on the progress made. But no one progress was mentioned. It was all about criticism, criticism, criticism.
“Are you telling me that for 25 years we have not made progress? We can say that we have made this progress, but there is still room for us to move forward. Just like Shehu Sani recounted, how they were locked up and detained (under military rule)…can he say under this democracy, any Nigerian has found himself in that condition? That is progress. We should not give the impression as if there is no progress.
“You have spoken about the FCT infrastructure development. Who is the FCT minister working under? Mr. President. Which means he has the capacity to know those who can help him move the country forward. That is progress. Mr. President knows that there is a problem and that is why he introduced the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“He knows that Nigerians have lost hope. That is why we must work hard to bring back that hope to Nigeria. Who does not know that Nigerians are suffering? That is no longer a story. We like to come to the public and say what Nigerians like. Mr. President has been making a lot of efforts and you know where we are coming from. Do not expect that within a short time everything will be corrected. That is not correct. If Abuja can be well, that means everything can be well.
“The mere fact that you people were activists does not mean that you will do well. Activists have always failed. We have seen activists that were given appointments and yet they failed. When you (Sani) were in the Senate, how did we perform? What was our performance as senators? And you (Ozekhome) have spoken about rigging of elections, how many times have you rejected briefs? Those who have rigged elections, you have always defended.”