• Say heroes of democracy must not die in vain
By Lukman Olabiyi
Prominent voices in the country’s pro-democracy movement, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams and others have reiterated their call for the restructuring of the country, asserting that the sacrifices of Nigeria’s democracy heroes must not be forgotten.
Speaking at the 25th edition of the June 12 lecture organised by the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Lagos, the activists emphasised that true federalism and national integration are critical to Nigeria’s progress.
The lecture, themed, ‘June 12 as a catalyst for national development: True federalism and Nigeria’s integration,’ drew activists, scholars and civil society leaders.
In his welcome address, the national coordinator of OPC, Adams, harped on the need for restructuring of the country.
Affirming his belief in restructuring as a solution to various challenges facing the country, he said: “Insecurity is becoming an embarrassment in this country and I know this menace will become a thing of the past if this country is restructured. It was not as bad as this 32 years ago. If this country is restructured equitably, the current revenue sharing formula in which the Federal Government collects 52.68 percent of centrally-collected revenues in the Federation Account, leaving states and local governments with 26.72 percent and 20.60 percent, respectively, will stop. If this country is restructured politically, responsible politicking, through independent candidature, will be introduced into our polity, which will automatically knock out godfatherism from our politics.
“We copied our presidential system from the United States. But, we all watched the last presidential election in that country. Through CNN, Fox News and other TV channels, results of the election were announced, state by state, unlike what we have in Nigeria, where the INEC chairman and other electoral ‘manipulators’ will wait to collate results from 36 states and the FCT, indirectly subjecting the system to manipulation.
“This must stop. In essence, to honour Abiola, our electoral system must be restructured and decentralised. So, to have an egalitarian society, restructuring is the answer. We want Nigeria to survive as a nation. That is why we are agitating that Nigeria must be restructured and our political and economic powers must derive legitimacy from the people.”
President, Women Arise, Okei-Odumakin, in her address, restated her call for the recognition of the late MKO Abiola as a past president of Nigeria, with his image adorning the requisite government offices and structures.
She also said restructuring remained the only way for Nigeria to make true progress, maintaining that it must remain “our battle cry.”
She stressed that the people who paid the supreme price for the return of democracy must not be allowed to die in vain and called for restructuring of the country’s security architecture.
“There must be security of lives and property. Insecurity is becoming an embarrassment in this country and I know this menace will become a thing of the past if this country is restructured. Our constitution must also be tinkered with to have a people’s constitution,” she added.
Falana, who was the keynote speaker, noted that history would be kind to the OPC for what it achieved in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate and how it has kept the memory alive over the years.
Represented by Dr. Wale Adeoye, executive director, Peace and Development Project (PDP), Falana bemoaned the flawed constitution that Nigeria currently operates.
He noted that the current flawed constitution remained one reason the country has not progressed. He called for a truly representative constitution as a bedrock for true development.
A guest of honour, Prof. Femi Otubanjo, called for a change of the nation’s political system.
Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Prof. Ilupeju Akanbi, called for pragmatism in the annual remembrance of June 12. He noted that what June 12 bequeathed to the country is the reality that the people have the power to determine the direction and future of the country. He challenged Nigerians to be prepared to vote in future elections and defend their votes to ensure they count.
Vice President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Kudu Abubakar and the leader of the Igbo speaking community in Lagos, Chief Sunday Udeh, both lamented that the country was passing through hard times under President Bola Tinubu, who was also part of the struggle for the emancipation of the country. They both expressed support for the views of Adams on the call for true federalism and restructuring.
Executive Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, stressed that it was only a revolution that could change the current warped political system that Nigeria presently operates.