Follow Us on Google
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Prominent activists, Professor Lucky Akaruse and Sam Eke, have expressed concern about the “shrinking” true activism among civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country.
Akaruse and Eke spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the presentation of the book: ‘In The Trail of A Town Crier,’ a contribution of several authors on the views and life of a renowned activist, late Patrick Naagbaton.
The 94-page book was edited by also another popular poet and activist, Orike Ben-Didi.
They argued that no institution is working in the country and there is no sincere and transparent commitment by those in power to positively change the country.
They called for the renegotiation of the country, noting that forcing Nigerians to live together is to suffocate the citizens against their will.
Akaruse, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Port Harcourt, said younger Nigerians were no longer interested in boldly speaking against the ills perpetrated by the Nigerian government.
Eke described the late Naagbaton as a forthright and fearless activist, saying that the true activism was dying in the country due to phobia.
He expressed: “We are here to celebrate an icon who was forthright, fearless, who imbibed the legacies of Saro-Wiwa.
South-South zonal chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Karl Uchegbu, in his presentation titled: “State of the Nation”, said it would be difficult for Nigeria to work as presently constituted.
Uchegbu said: “The greatest fallacy in the country is calling Nigeria a nation. What we inherited was a British enterprise aimed at developing them economically. Nigerians were never consulted before the amalgamation of the country.
“We must actually ask ourselves if Nigerian can work as presently constituted?”
