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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, former Minister of Education Prof Tunde Adeniran, and Shehu Gabam, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), have lamented the poor state of affairs, saying the country is in crisis.
They spoke at the official unveiling of the SDP Secretariat in Abuja.
Falae, who served as the party’s chairman, noted that insecurity has engulfed the entire country unlike in the seventies and in the eighties.
He recalled how he was kidnapped at the age of 77 on his farm, adding all hands must be on deck to rescue the country.
He said: “Nigeria today is in crisis. You cannot move from one town today to another without the fear of being kidnapped.
“I, myself was kidnapped for four days, seven years ago on my farm. When I was a child, I travelled from Akure to attend school by myself. No kidnapper, no problem.
“At 77 years old, I was kidnapped. That tells you the dramatic decline in Nigeria. Only a party properly structured can change it. Not these so-called big parties.
“When I say they are not parties, they say they control the federal government, state governments. Controlling government does not define a party.”
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Prof Adeniran expressed concern over what he called the “cynical manipulation of the political process.”
The former chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said Nigeria can only work through a liberated ideology backed by a workable legal status.
“Democracy can only be consolidated in Nigeria through a liberated ideology that serves as a guide to action and supporting structures, especially with a workable legal system.
“This is the time to confront the provocative question of democracy in our fatherland.
“I remain deeply concerned about the prevailing political climate. The cynical manipulation of the political process has become more worrisome.
“Widespread insecurity, the state of poverty in our fatherland and the multiple challenges require our efforts of people from all walks of life to fix it,” he said.
On his part, Shehu Gabam said the SDP would rescue Nigeria from the brink of collapse if elected in the 2023 general plebiscite.
“Administratively, we are prepared. In terms of the campaign, we are prepared. We have all the arsenal to transverse Nigeria. We know this country. I have visited all the states in Nigeria.
“We have the determination, we have the energy and we are not likely to be deterred or intimidated by anybody.
“I am very happy that our presidential candidate is a courageous person. He is hardworking and we will add our strength and value from the presidential, governorship and state houses of assembly to win the election,” he added.
