It was a day of verbal missiles and counter-posing postulations yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Eminent Nigerians from all walks of life gathered at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua to discuss the way forward for the nation’s growing democracy which has trudged on without truncation for the first time in 25 years.
With divergent opinions and perspectives, eminent Nigerians and political leaders yesterday shed light on the nation’s democracy in its now 25-year trajectory.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, took headlong from famous lawyer, Prof Mike Ozekhome on the state of progress in democratic rule in 25 years.
Speaking at ThisNigeria’s Lecture and Gold Prize Awards, Wike stated that the country has made significant progress with its democratic rule, adding that there was room for improvement which, according to him, was not captured by Ozekhome, who had earlier taken the podium to speak on the same topic.
He urged the people to believe in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to deliver the dividend of democracy in due time.
Countering Ozekhome, Wike said, “First of all, we have been talking about democracy for 25 years, and I know we have challenges, but I expected Ozekhome to admit that we have made progress.
“In all his points, not one progress was mentioned. They were all criticisms. Are you telling me that for 25 years, we have not made any progress? We should not give an impression as though progress has not been made. There is still room for improvement.
“You hailed the infrastructural development in the FCT. The FCT Minister works for the president, which means we can go through people who would help move the country forward.
“The President knows that there is a problem, which is why he said we needed the Renewed Hope Agenda. He knows that Nigerians have lost hope, and he must work hard to renew it. So, it’s not for you to tell him that the people are suffering because he has been making a lot of effort.
“We can’t expect that within a short time, an economy that was down will be working immediately. We appreciate you for mentioning our good works in Abuja, but you must also understand that it would spread to other parts of the country.”
Nigeria has made progress in 25 years of democratic rule, says Wike
Before Wike’s remarks, Ozekhome, who was the guest speaker of the event themed: ‘25 Years of Nigeria’s Unbroken Democracy: Prospects and Possibilities, had taken a swipe at the nation’s democracy, stressing that it had failed to live by its name or slogan 25 years after.
According to him, its popular appellation or slogan, “Government of the people, by the people and for the people,” has failed to resonate with the people whom it was meant for due to the nations’ leaders’ failure to deliver its dividends to them.
He, therefore, described the nation’s democracy as a mere ‘civilian government’.
While advising President Tinubu to set the record right, he said: “Mr. President, we were in the trenches together to fight for democracy. You were in NADECO, you saw what we felt. Today, Nigerians are suffering. There is mass hunger, small-scale industries are dead because they can no longer afford fuel for their generators.”
The legal luminary also advised the president: “Do away with long convoys, cut the large size of government. It’s too large and too wasteful.”
Ozekhome also called on Nigerian leaders to empathise with the people and not live large in ostentation, while the people are suffering.
He also said the president has an opportunity to write his name in gold.
“At a time of crisis, great leaders emerge. Please, lead by example. You can do it. It is not impossible.”
He also called on Tinubu to proffer solutions to the current hunger and mass poverty in the country.
The leading lawyer stated that Nigerians were being made poor daily due to bad economic conditions.
Ozekhome also bemoaned political corruption in the country and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to set up special courts to be charged with the responsibility of punishing electoral offenders.
“The process of the constitution is even more important than the context of the constitution because it has become autonomous and indigenous to the people.
“I believe that we also need serious legal reforms in terms of the electoral system. We should have an electoral court that should punish crimes so that people will know that crimes do not pay. We need the youth to come on board,” Ozekhome said.
“And we need to encourage them so that people will not be accusing them of doing ‘yahoo- yahoo’ if you don’t give them jobs, and a student will spend eight years in university instead of four years because of the ASUU strike. What do you want the youth to do? An idle hand is the devil’s workshop.”
While also speaking on the pang of the economic woes bedevilling the citizenry, Ozekhome lamented that Nigeria risks losing N94 trillion to companies leaving Nigeria due to the poor economic environment to operate due to insecurity and poor power supply.
Ozekhome listed the companies as Procter & Gamble, Michelin Tyres, as well as oil companies.
One of the discussants, Senator Shehu Sani, had berated the Federal Government, especially during the military despotic regime of the late Sani Abacha over its clampdown on human rights activists and civil society who fought for democracy.
On his part, former Nigerian head of state Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, said the past 25 years of democracy had taught Nigeria that democracy was not just an evolving process, but requires constant nurturing and vigilance.
He also noted that issues such as electoral integrity, human rights, economic development, and social justice, remain critical areas that demand our collective attention and action.
Represented by Gen. Adamu Jidda (retd.), the former Head of State, said: “Democracy is an evolving process, and the past 25 years has taught us that it requires constant nurturing and vigilance.
“Issues such as electoral integrity, human rights, economic development, and social justice, remain critical areas that demand our collective attention and action. Our journey over the past 25 years has not been without its trials.
“We have faced political turbulence, economic fluctuation, and social upheaval, yet through it all, the Nigerian spirit has remained indomitable.
‘’We have shown that, despite our differences, we are united in our commitment to conducting elections that are inclusive, prosperous and democratic.”
Abubakar, who was the chairman of the occasion, also noted that “as Nigerians reflected on their democratic journey, let us look to the future with optimism and determination that the next 25 years and more will certainly bring challenges and opportunities.”
According to him, “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the foundations are built and strengthened, and our democratic institutions are fortified, and that the values of freedom, justice, and equality continue to guide us.”
The retired head of state stressed, “Let us take a moment to reflect on a remarkable journey Nigeria has undertaken over the past quarter of a century. Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, our nation embarked on the path of democratic governance, a path marked by aspirations, challenges, and unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom, justice, and equality.
“Democracy, as we all know, is not a system of government. It is a testament to the will of the people. It represents our collective voice, our shared values, and our common aspirations.
“For Nigeria, the past 25 years have been a testament to the resilience of our democratic institutions. Despite the myriads of challenges that have come our way, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to upholding democratic ideals.
“This morning as we celebrate this milestone, we must acknowledge the numerous individuals and institutions that have played pivotal roles in sustaining our democracy,” he said.
Each one of us, he added, had contributed to the remarkable journey.
He also noted that we must recognise the role of the media in the democratic journey, stressing that the press has been the watchdog of Nigeria’s democracy, holding leaders accountable, shading lights on issues that matter, and providing platforms for diverse voices to be heard.
The general concluded, “ThisNigeria, in particular, has been at the forefront of this endeavour. Championing the cause of free and fair journalism and today’s event is a testament to its commitment to excellence and integrity.
“As we celebrate our achievements, it is equally important to acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead.”
In their submissions, Professors Abiodun Gabriel Adeniyi and Oke Ikechukwu said they encouraged Nigerians to persevere in the face of all the odds.
Adeniyi, a professor of strategic management at Baze University, Abuja concurred with his colleague, Ikechukwu, who is a communication consultant and an academic, as well as the Deputy Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at the same university, that ‘’all hope is not lost’’.
Dignitaries at the event include elder statesman and Publish of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka; Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ali Muhammad Ali; Editor-in-Chief, Leadership newspaper, Azubuike Ishiekwene, President, African Council on Narcotics, Rekpene Bassey, former Inspector-General of Police, Dr Solomon Arase, Vice-Chairman (South-South), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, among many others.
