By Joy Idam, Abuja
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), High Chief Mike Ozekhome, Senator Shehu Sani and National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, have proffered solutions to the series of issues bedeviling the country.
They spoke at the 2023 Human Rights Lecture organised by HURIWA, on Wednesday, 27th September, 2023 in Abuja, with the theme of the lecture : ‘National Question in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Potential Solutions.’
The vibrant activist Senator Sani, suggested that citizens should embrace the country’s diverse ethnic groups to spice up national development. While Comrade Onwubiko noted that the three arms of government should be independent to function effectively.
Senator Sani, made references to the United Kingdom, Morocco, United States among others, that are battling with internal wranglings.
“I must be frank that I have attended many conferences in which the national question is always asked. Most people do not know what the question is nor the answer” he declared.
“Diversity is supposed to be a source of strength as a nation. Why God created us differently is to spice up our national identity. It would have been boring if we all looked alike. It is somewhat refreshing if you go to Kwara or Borno States, respectively and see different people”.
“Every country has its own headache and challenges. Those ones that are in Maitama, Lugbe or Mararaba, they have their own problems too”.
“While we are battling with Boko Haram, kidnapping, in the United States, they are battling with gun control, as many are trigger happy.
“In the UK today Scotland want to exit from the United Kingdom. You do not see anything wrong when you take rice, salt to vote for a leader. But you only see everything wrong when a leader fails you” he stated.
“Nigeria’s problem is beyond leadership. It is also about follower-ship. Poverty has been weaponinsed. When people are poor if they are told to do anything, they hurriedly do for monetary gains.
“Nigerian leaders do not see themselves as elected leaders. They see themselves as people who conquered the nation and so, they share the natural resources and common wealth of the masses.”
Comrade Onwubiko said : “The national question is about who we are as Nigerians. Why is it that Nigeria has not become an advanced society in spite of all the natural resources? It is simply.
“It is the lack of good governance, respect for human rights, equality, equity and lack of respect for constitutional institutions that protect and promote fundamental human rights”.
The HURIWA Boss declared that “the nation as a country does not and has not sufficiently allowed the relevant institutions that are supposed to function.
“Such institution like the judiciary are key but it has been hijacked by the executive arm of government. It is anathema to the nationality of Nigeria because Nigerian nationality is a collection of diverse groups”.
“Nigeria is endowed with national resources. How are these natural resources distributed? How do we bake the national cake so that the younger generation can benefit from it and every sector carried along?
“The executive arm of government should stop the unnecessary interferences in hijacking the judiciary because the judiciary is not independent”.
“The legislature is not independent. These are threats to the existence of our nation. So, we have to grant autonomy because the constitution has specified their roles.”
In his keynote address, Ozekhome,(SAN), represented by Abubakar Sani, said: “There is no difficulty in proffering solutions to Nigeria’s problem. Adding that Implementation is the major problem.
Prof Adeniyi also agreed with the submissions by Senator Sani and High Chief Ozekhome on the need to get it right. He congratulated HURIWA for all the have represented over the years.
“With the right leaders, enough goodwill and sincerity of purpose, the problem starts and ends with sincere leadership. If only we had that, Nigeria would have been a better place and the people happy”.
The high point of the event was the cutting of the anniversary cake by the VIPs on the high table.