Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo and a past leader of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi have expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the nation. They lamented that Nigeria’s leadership had failed the people. The duo made the remarks at the weekend in Abuja at the launch of a book titled ‘Court and Politics’, authored by Dr. Umar Ardo, a former associate of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Obasanjo, who was represented by a former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, blamed the poor management of the oil sector for the economic woes of the country. He said that while other oil-producing countries have records of their oil production, Nigeria cannot account for its quantum of production due to oil theft.
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“Over 80 percent of our crude oil is stolen. While the crude oil quota is about two million barrels per day, over 1.7 million are stolen. How can our economy not be in ruins?” he asked. He also defended the presidential system of government, saying that there is nothing wrong with it, only that Nigerians do not play by the rules. He called for a proper political culture, adding that no system is cast in stone.
Abdullahi, who chaired the occasion, lamented the failure of the leadership to address the challenges facing the country. These challenges, he noted include; insecurity, poverty, and power shortage. He said that there was a need for the country to be rescued from the leadership deficit.
“Enough of our failures. Something else must give way to our failures. We have failed this country. This must stop. Time has come for us to go back to the drawing boards to rescue this country,” he said.
He also narrated his encounter with an elder statesman, Aminu Dantata, who expressed his anger with the northerners for failing the North and Nigeria. He said that until the North accepts its failure and seeks a way forward, there won’t be progress.
Furthermore, Abdullahi recalled that in 1978, when the country was preparing to return to civilian rule, he and other delegates were shocked when they were told that the parliamentary system of government was not going to be discussed and that they should opt for the federal system of government. He said that the presidential system has failed and he would score it F9.
Other speakers at the event included the former National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who called for judicial reforms. He said activities relating to politics should be well managed so that elections would be decided by the people and not the courts. Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), insisted that the judiciary saved Nigeria from disintegration.
The former national chairman of PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, also commented that he was removed from office because he was preaching internal democracy within his political party. He said that with internal democracy in political parties, the courts would have little or no role to play in the affairs of political parties
