The Federal Capital Territory (FCT ),Minister ,Nyesome Wike has berated activists undermining the progress made so far in the 25 years of Nigeria’s democracy.
Wike said this on Thursday in Abuja at the second edition of ThisNigeria Newspaper Gold Prize and Annual Lecture Awards, themed: “25 Years of Nigeria’s Unbroken Democracy – Prospects and Possibilities.”
Newsspecng reports that in 2021, ThisNigeria held its maiden Annual Lecture and Gold Prize themed “National Cohesion for Sustainable Growth and Progress: The Nigerian Dilemma.”
According to the Minister, the final speaker criticized the omission of progress made over the past 25 years in his lecture, which focused solely on criticism.
“We know we have challenges, I expected the lecturer to we have made some progress”
“You can say we have made progress but there is still room for improvement”
He argued that despite ongoing challenges, significant advancements have been achieved, such as improvements in infrastructure in the FCT and proactive efforts under the current administration to restore hope among Nigerians.
“You mentioned infrastructure in FCT that is progress”
“Mr President know that Nigerians have lost hope that is why he came up with the renew hope agenda”
“Who does not know that Nigerians are suffering,it no more story. You don’t expect the economy to be revived within a short time”
Wike stressed the need to recognize and build upon these successes to continue fostering national development.
In his keynote address, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, called for genuine democracy, effective governance, economic reform, youth engagement, and social justice to ensure Nigeria’s progress and unity.
Ozekhome’s emphasised several key points regarding Nigeria’s democracy, governance, and socio-economic conditions.
He reflected on the significance of the 25-year milestone since Nigeria transitioned from military rule to democracy in 1999.
He noted that the generation born during this period has no experience of military juntas and repressive regimes.
“We need to have electoral courts where there will be punishment for electoral crime”
“We need the youth to come on board, we need to encourage them.”
“Some talked about peaceful separation,if your union is not working,you need to sit down and deliberate and have respect for each other.”
“I like Nigeria as a big prosperous,united nation where we can develop together, no tribe in Nigeria should be seen as a dot in the circle.”
“We should do away with political corruption”
He questioned the quality of Nigeria’s democracy, comparing it to Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
He argued that true democracy was realised when votes were counted and allowed to count, which he believed was not fully achieved in Nigeria.
The SAN introduced terms like “selectocracies,” “electionocracies,” “ludocracies,” “legislutocracy,” and “executocracy” to describe the various flawed aspects of Nigeria’s current democratic practice.
He described Nigeria’s economy as “disarticulate,” where the country produces what it doesn’t consume and consumes what it doesn’t produce, particularly in the context of crude oil production and importation of refined products.
He recounted Nigeria’s past industrial and economic successes, contrasting them with the current state of economic decline, loss of industries, and the departure of multinational companies due to insecurity and poor governance.
He emphasised the need for youth involvement in governance, citing historical examples of young leaders in Nigeria and other countries.
He highlighted the potential of Nigeria’s youthful population and the importance of harnessing their energy for national development.
He discussed the lack of autonomy for local governments, which were controlled by state governments, leading to inefficiency and underdevelopment.
He called for a new constitution that reflects the will of the people and for electoral reforms to ensure free and fair elections.
He criticised political corruption and the extravagant lifestyles of government officials, urging leaders to empathize with the suffering population and lead by example.
He highlighted the underrepresentation of women in government and the need to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to gender equality.
He advocated for mutual respect among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups and addresses the issue of social injustice, which he sees as a root cause of unrest and conflict.
Sen. Shehu Sani, a former senator and an activist, reflected on the challenges faced by activists and leaders in the struggle for democracy and underscored the sacrifices and injustices endured during those tumultuous times.
Sani stressed on the complexities involved in transitioning to democratic governance and the strategic decisions made by those involved in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape.
“The military headed by Gen. Abdulsalami wanted to hand over to us the freedom fighters asking us to come together but we all opposed it.”
“After all our struggles in the 1998 and 1999,we said we are not going to cooperate with the military”
“By the time we agreed to join the politicians have occupy all the space”
He highlighted the importance of perseverance and collaboration in striving for democratic ideals.
Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi of Mass Communication Department, School of Postgraduates Studies, Baze University, said that democracy requires constant effort, and the responsibility of citizens was to work towards a better democratic system.
“American democracy, often seen as the bastion of democracy, has been around for centuries but still faces challenges.
“While it is one of the most functional and referenced democracies, it is not the best; the Nordic Scandinavian countries hold that title. This shows that democracy is always a work in progress,” he said.
Adeniyi said that In the context, 25 years of unbroken democracy was something to celebrate, but the country still face many issues.
“Our election processes are marred by controversies and violence. We need to improve gender representation and ensure inclusivity in governance, reflecting the true nature of democracy.
“To strengthen our democracy, we need to focus on election integrity, credible leadership, and systemic change. Corruption remains a persistent problem, and our institutions are weak.
“We need a synergy to build a self-regulating democratic system, not give up, and continually strive for more democracy,” he said.
He said that values and attitudes were crucial.
“While we have good laws, their implementation is often poor. Strengthening our criminal justice system is essential.
“Attitudes, patriotism, and nationalism play significant roles in effective governance. As citizens, we must hold our leaders accountable and uphold ethical standards learned from religion and culture,” he said.
The Publisher of This Nigeria, Mr Eric Osagie, said that , the 2024 edition celebrated and critically examine Nigeria’s quarter-century of uninterrupted democratic governance, discussing its prospects and possibilities.
Osagie said that the Gold Prize Award presented to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the nation’s democratic development.
“Our 2024 Awardees are persons who made the critical difference in the discharge of their duties, with uncommon zeal and commitment to the common good of the citizens and the country,” he said.
