Top government dignitaries, political figures and eminent Nigerians made significant contributions at the 5th public lecture of the Freedom Online Newspapers.
Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; his Bayelsa Bayelsa State counterpart, Douye Diri; former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George; Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, amongst many others emphasized the need for a new constitution that would reflect the wishes, aspirations and yearnings of Nigerians.
They stressed the fact that the people of the country deserve a working constitution and government policies suitable for the current day’s needs.
Tagged: “2023- 2027: Nigerians Elected Leaders and Expectations,” stressing that further reliance on the 1999 Constitution as a solution to Nigeria’s problems was a waste of time that would spell doom for the country.
The event was held at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja Lagos on Tuesday, July 19th, 2023.
All the speakers also used the occasion to demand the establishment of a State Police, saying such key and crucial if Nigeria was determined to end the problem of insecurity it was currently facing.
In his welcome address, the Publisher of Freedom Online, Mr Gabriel Akinadewo, spoke on the need for Nigeria to review its constitution that would reflect the wishes and aspirations of the citizens, saying the country cannot have a breakthrough with what’s presently obtainable.
He added that the Federal Government can’t continue to use the federal measure to tackle local challenges, recalling quickly that such was not the situation in First Republic.
“In the first Republic because of the constitution operated, the centre was less attractive. We should make the centre less attractive like we have it in America. Nigerians want State Police between now and 2027. The world is moving forward, we can’t afford to be stagnant,” he said.
Keynote speaker, the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodima, ably represented by his Commissioner for Information, Declam Emelumba, said the expectations of every Nigerian was good governance, adding that they were increasingly demanding it.
The governor, however, said the lapses in the 1999 Constitution prevent the state governments from performing up to expectations, noting that the large size of the country made governance difficult as the centre had been one deciding affairs of the states in areas of policing and other issues that should be the exclusive responsibility of the states.
He noted that the common language Nigerians understood perfectly by all Nigerians regardless of the tribe or language is good governance, stating that good governance reduces to the barest minimum poverty, unemployment, and insecurity.
He posted that with good governance, there would be an economic boom, abundant empowerment opportunities, good healthcare delivery, good quality and affordable education, abundant infrastructure provisions and security of lives and property, adding that with all these in place, Nigerians would boast of an improved quality of life and a higher average life expectancy.
“This is a common language that does not need to be spoken but yet can be heard clearly. Once Nigerians see these, they will know the country is working and that their expectations are being met.
“So what Nigerians expect is for the country to work. That is what they need and that is what they desire,” the governor said.
“This makes our task very easy. All we need to do is to list those things that make up good governance, those things that will make the country work, and we have the expectations of Nigerians from elected leaders for the period 2023 to 2027.
“As I said earlier, these expectations are not farfetched. They are the same things Nigerians have been clamouring since Independence 63years ago,” he added.
“So, yes, I can hazard the guess that the expectations of good governance between 2023 and 2027, will be reasonably met. I expect that Nigerians will have less poverty, insecurity and unemployment to deal with in the next four years,” Uzodimma assured.
Another speaker, the Bayelsa State governor, Diri, ably represented by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Daniel Alabrah, said the inability of state government to control their resources had created set back for many states, stressing that if the state were empowered like the regions to control their resources in the First Republic, a lot of advancement would have been recorded in the states.
He added that for Nigeria to rise to the great height envisaged by her founding fathers, she needed to come up with a constitution that would empower the state to control its resources.
While discussing the upcoming November off-season elections, he emphasized the importance of platforms like the Freedom Online Lectures in facilitating conversations that enable candidates to present their policies and track records to voters, encouraging them to make informed choices and reject electoral malpractice and violence.
“I think it is important that the media continues to instigate more of these conversations so that elected leaders will be accountable to voters. That is why I am pleased to be here today,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Olabode George, lamented the poor leadership in the country, noting that a stop be put to the present deceit and rottenness in the financial management of the nation, adding.
“Let us put an end to the economic inequalities, injustice, and unfairness in the distribution of our God-given resources and our financial wealth.”
George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yoruba land used bible passages and scriptures to analyze his positions.
He likened Nigeria’s current situation to that of then Judah as told by Prophet Micah, a contemporary of Prophet Isaiah in his prophecy, condemned a situation whereby a sitting senator collects N23million monthly and a retired Federal Permanent Secretary collects N1million per month, while a retired General collects N250,000 as pension per month, describing such as despicable, shambolic nonsensical and outright systemic failure.
The PDP chieftain, made it known that he was talking as an elder statesman and not taking his positions from the angle of any political party.
“not talking as a member of any political party but as an elder statesman who seeks the peace and progress of Nigeria,”
The Lagos-born politician equally condemned the planned palliatives to be distributed by the Tinubu- led administration, demanding that a quick reminder of the N500billion previously collected monthly and supposedly distributed without data and accountability under the immediate past administration headed by former President Muhammadu Buhari called for an in-depth investigation and punishment.
“Enough of this deceit: Enough of this rottenness in the financial management of our Nation.
“Let us put an end to the economic inequalities, injustice, and unfairness in the distribution of our God-given resources and our financial wealth.
“A situation where a sitting Senator collects N23m every month, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary collects N1m per month and a retired General collect N250k as pension per month is a despicable, shambolic nonsensical and outright systemic failure.
“How will the palliatives be distributed? A quick reminder of the N500 billion previously collected monthly and supposedly distributed without data and accountability calls for in-depth investigation and punishment,” he said.
Chief George said he wept for Nigeria, but quickly prayed to God to forgive the nation’s leaders’ transgressions and direct their minds “in ensuring a good life to all our people in Nigeria,” expressing the belief that the country would rise again if like Prophet Micah said “we put the fear of God before all human endeavours.
“May God forgive our transgressions and direct the minds of our political leaders in ensuring a good life for all our people in Nigeria.
“I weep for my Country Nigeria but as Prophet Micah said, our Nation will rise again if we put the fear of God before all human endeavours.”Nigeria will rise again. We will rise again. In Jesus’ Name. Amen,” he prayed.
Continuing, George also condemned the 1999 Constitution now in use, describing the document as military compliance, which he said would not take Nigeria out of her present situation.
He charged Nigerians to come up with a new constitution that would state the best way to govern the country, pointing out that leaving the Federal Government with enormous powers of deciding for the entire country would not work, as he noted that every state of the federation was blessed with enough resources to take good care of itself.
Also speaking, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, said it was high time the government told the home truth that Nigerians were suffering across the board and without exception, occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
According to the Yoruba generalissimo, who was represented by Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, the price of litres of petrol or diesel to fuel one’s vehicle on a weekly basis is now very exorbitant, saying that the country’s currency was now becoming valueless, but quickly prayed that it would not become ordinary paper.
“The government must come in quickly to address the matter. I pray that Nigerians would not be back on the streets again,” he prayed.
Adams equally reiterated his call on the need to revisit the reviewed 1999 Constitution, just as he charged the Federal Government to tackle the insecurity ravaging the nation to avoid the country being turned to shred.
Chief Tola Adeniyi, former Managing Director of Daily Times, in his short remark, declared pointedly that Nigerian politicians lacked the integrity to make any positive impact on the country, saying based on that “you cannot expect any posterity in Nigeria.”
On the State Police, Chief Adeniyi said it was a dream that would not come to pass, alleging that the present structure had become a cash cow for those who were feeding fat on it.
” To expect anything from Nigerian politicians is to be postponing the doomsday. I don’t see how an Okiro will police Akure. Nigeria Police is the cash cow of those who held Nigeria down. I don’t expect anything from those who have nothing to give”, he said.
Also in his remark, a former military administrator, Navy Captain Omoniyi Olubolade rated said for a country to move forward, it should not be an island to itself, adding that there should be a constitution that would address the challenges of its citizens and as well tackle the issue of insecurity. Benson Enikuomehin, an Abuja-based lawyer, made a passionate pleas to the Ondo state government and President Bola Tinubu to come to the aid of his Ilaje people of Ondo south senatorial district, to avert a looming disaster that perenial flood may wreck on them.
Enukuomehin who contended that the Ilaje area gave the Ondo state its oil-producing status, maintains that something must be done urgently before they are wiped off.
Present at the lecture were, The President, of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba; Mr Richard Akinnola, Mr. Bola Bolawole, former Managing Director of Punch Newspaper, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Ogbeni Lanre Banjo and a host of eminent journalists, among others.