Pro-democracy activist and elder statesman, Pa Ayo Opadokun, has said Nigeria must “turn a new leaf” and urgently address the challenges of poverty, corruption and poor governance if the country is to realise its potential.
Opadokun, who spoke during activities marking his 80th birthday, said his survival through years of activism, detention and deprivation was a demonstration of God’s grace.
The veteran pro-democracy campaigner recalled that he spent two years in Kuje Prison during the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha, noting that he celebrated his 50th birthday behind bars.
He said, “I feel like a human being that is blessed by God to attain the age of 80 when the average lifespan of Nigerians today is about 57. It’s not an easy matter. So it has been God’s grace, God’s benevolence that has sustained me.
“Particularly having regard to the kind of life that I have had to go through as an activist who has suffered separate detention, separate deprivations with multiple jeopardy in my life. I celebrated my 30th anniversary in Kuje Prison. I was 50 when I was in Kuje Prison when Abacha put me there for two calendar years.
“So that God has spared me that I can now celebrate 80. It’s not a joke. I’m so grateful to God.”
The activist explained that the thanksgiving celebration was organised to acknowledge what he described as God’s grace and benevolence throughout his life.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, Opadokun, who was active in the struggle against military rule, lamented the damage he said prolonged military intervention had done to the country’s political and economic development.
According to him, Nigeria’s problems are rooted in decades of inconsistent economic policies, corruption and the continued influence of military-era actors in key government institutions.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: Okin biscuit announces production after 17-year shutdown
He said, “A rough-headed, somersaulting economic policy of over 45 to 50 years, run by the politicians in military uniforms called the Nigerian Army, has ruined us.
“They have subverted democracy. They have made it impossible for us to grow as a country.”
Opadokun recalled that Nigeria and countries in Asia, including Singapore, were at comparable levels of development in the 1960s, but expressed regret that Nigeria had failed to achieve similar progress.
He also questioned the impact of the country’s huge oil revenues over the years.
“In 1960, Nigeria was at war with Singapore and the other Asian tigers. What have we gotten? Here was a country where over 20 years, we were exporting two million barrels of oil every day at $100 per barrel. Where is that money? Where is the evidence of that money in our lives today?” he asked.
Opadokun, however, said President Bola Tinubu was attempting to dismantle some of the entrenched structures inherited from the military era, adding that the President had been part of the pro-democracy struggle.
He said, “The current ruler has been part of me in the trenches. The consequence of what he made when he came to office is having an effect on all of us.
“These military top shots, they have planted their people in all the key government institutions. They are in control up to tomorrow. That’s what Bola Tinubu is trying to dismantle.”
On the economic reforms of the present administration, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, Opadokun acknowledged the hardship being experienced by Nigerians but argued that the country could not continue with policies that, in his view, were unsustainable.
He said some of the complaints over the exchange rate and the rising cost of living had merit, while urging Nigerians to give the government an opportunity to address the structural problems in the economy.
“There were perhaps errors made in timing about the petroleum subsidy. But can any reasonable person now be talking about investing, going back? So, I believe that Nigeria has a future. If we can collaborate to set our priorities right, we cannot continue this way,” he said.
Opadokun also described corruption as one of Nigeria’s greatest impediments to development, calling for stronger measures to deter public officials from abusing their positions.
“Corruption has overwhelmed the country. No country can grow under this atmosphere. We must be ready to fight corruption,” he said.
He cited Singapore as an example of a country that tackled corruption by ensuring that public-sector remuneration was competitive with the private sector while imposing severe consequences on officials found guilty of wrongdoing.
The octogenarian urged the government to prioritise poverty reduction, saying millions of Nigerians needed relief from the current economic pressures.
“I believe and I wish that President Bola Tinubu will do his utmost to lift a greater portion of Nigeria out of poverty. The level of poverty in Nigeria is too much. And people need a breathing space,” he said.
He also appealed to Nigerians and political actors to protect the country’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that Nigeria could not afford to continue on its current trajectory.
“Take it or leave it, Nigeria has to turn a new leaf. We cannot continue this way,” Opadokun said.
He expressed optimism that the country could experience a positive turnaround if Nigerians collectively prioritised good governance, economic development and the fight against corruption.
“Let the government of the day do its utmost. And I think that if they allow this man to govern for a little while, there will be a turnaround for good,” he said.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV