The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has called for sober reflection as Nigeria marks its 56th Independence anniversary.
He said there is the need to return to
the path of true federalism as envisioned by the country’s founding
fathers in order to move it forward.
Ekweremadu — who said these in his
message to Nigerians on the occasion of the Independence anniversary,
stressed the need for justice, peace and unity, urging the Federal
Government to mobilise “all capable hands” to salvage the country’s
ailing economy.
He said, “This 56th Independence
anniversary calls for sober reflection. No people can make progress
unless they retrace their steps back to where the rain started beating
them. Nigeria, at formation, had a building plan, which was based on
true federalism as covenanted by our founding fathers at various
conferences leading up to Independence.
“For as long as we followed that plan,
we prospered. But, once we discarded the building plan, dissembled the
inherited structures and legacies and began to undermine the fabrics of
equity, justice, balance, healthy competition and economic prosperity
that was ingrained therein, we charted our route to the current
perdition.”
Ekweremadu, however, assured Nigerians
that the country would bounce back if immediate steps were taken to
unite the country, getting the best hands on deck, irrespective of who
they are.
The leader of Afenifere, a
socio-cultural group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, expressed disappointment
at the pace of development in the country despite its abundant human and
natural resources.
Fasoranti, who spoke in Osogbo on the
sidelines of the 91st birthday ceremony of Senator Ayo Fasanmi, said the
country was not on track even as it marks its 56th Independence
anniversary, while he decried the lack of creativity by the country’s
leaders, who he said had always depended on oil money to run the
country.
He said, “We are disappointed. We are
not on track at all. For instance, the sale of national assets should
not happen at all because that is going to be a sad loss. The best thing
for our leaders is to think well and look inward on how to maximise
what we have.
“Our leaders only like easy option
instead of exerting themselves. They should think well. What they are
planning to do is a very easy option. The executives need to think
again.”
A former President of the Nigeria Bar
Association, Wole Olanipekun, described the current system of government
in Nigeria as “hydra-headed unitarism,” which negates all known
principles of federalism as practised in other countries of the world.
Olanipekun said this at the opening of
an ultra-modern Vice Chancellor’s lodge which he donated to Ajayi
Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State.
He said, “Nigeria must be governed
properly and I am saying that today, Nigeria is not being governed
properly. Leadership is rudderless at the federal, state and local
government levels.
“What we have in Nigeria today are
powerful individuals, not powerful institutions. And the powerful
individuals, if care is not taken, will become lions and when lions
roar, they will devour. I hope those individuals who are richer than
Nigeria don’t devour us. A time will come when Nigeria will start
borrowing from them to survive.”
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