Nigeria needs new direction, say Uzodimma, Diri, George, others at Freedom Online lecture

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; his Bayelsa State counterpart, Douye Diri; a former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George; AareOnakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, among others have said Nigeria needs a new direction so that its citizens can get good governance.

At the fifth annual lecture of the Freedom Online lecture in Lagos, they insisted on a new constitution that would reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people of Nigeria.

The public lecture organised by Freedom Online newspaper with the theme, “2023- 2027: Nigerians, Elected Leaders and Expectations,” gave the eminent Nigerians the platform to also demanded for the establishment of State Police, saying such was crucial if Nigeria was to end the problem of insecurity.

Uzodimma, who was the guest speaker, and represented by his Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, said although Nigeria has many ethnic languages and customs, there was one that all understood perfectly; good governance, adding that they were increasingly demanding for it.

The governor said the lapses in the 1999 Constitution prevent  state governments from performing up to expectations, noting that the large size of the country made governance difficult as the centre had been the one deciding affairs of  states in areas of policing and other issues that should be the exclusive responsibility of states.

Uzodimma said, “The common language Nigerians understood perfectly irrespective of tribe, or tongue or religion is good governance. When governance is birthed in town, poverty, unemployment, and insecurity will take flight.

“With good governance, there would be 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

“What Nigerians expect is for the country to work. That is what they need and that is what they desire.”

The keynote speaker, the Bayelsa State Governor, Diri, said inability of state government to control their resources had created setbacks 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.

Diri, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said for Nigeria to rise to the great height envisaged by her founding fathers, she needed to come up with the constitution that would empower the state to control their resources.

Chief George lamented poor leadership in the country, declaring that a stop be put to the present deceit and rottenness in the financial management of the nation.

He added, “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, likened Nigeria’s current situation to that of then Judah as told by Prophet Micah, a contemporary of Prophet Isaiah in his prophecy, and condemned totally a situation whereby a sitting senator collects N23m monthly and a retired Federal Permanent Secretary collects N1m 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, who said he was “not talking as a member of any political party but as an elder statesman who seeks the peace and progress of Nigeria,” equally condemned the planned palliatives to be distributed by the Tinubu- led administration, demanding that a quick reminder of the N500bn previously collected monthly and supposedly distributed without data and accountability under the immediate past administration headed by former President Muhammadu Buhari called for in-depth investigation and punishment.

“May God forgive our transgressions and direct the minds of our political leaders in ensuring a good life to all our people in Nigeria.

“I weep for my Country Nigeria but if like 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 said.

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 clearly best way to govern the country, pointing out that giving 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.

The PDP chieftain again reiterated his call for establishment of State Police, saying that it was the best way to secure the country.

Also speaking, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, who was represented by  Yinka Oguntimehin, a lawyer, price of litres of petrol or diesel to fuel one’s vehicle on 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 need to revisit the reviewed 1999 Constitution, just as he charged the Federal Government to tackle the insecurity ravaging the nation.

Chief Tola Adeniyi, former Managing Director of Daily Times, in his short remark, declared pointedly that Nigerian politicians lacked integrity to make any positive impact on the country, saying based on that “you cannot expect any posterity in Nigeria.”

On 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.

Earlier in his welcome address, the publisher of Freedom online, Gabriel Akinadewo, noted that unless Nigeria had a constitution, which reflects the wishes and aspiration of the citizens, the country could never have a breakthrough.

“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.

Also in his own remark, a former military governor of Bayelsa State, Navy Captain Omoniyi Olubolade (retd), 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 plea to 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 disater that perennial flood may wreck on them.