The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Monday, promised to dismantle the structure of criminality in the country that has destroyed and ravaged the economy of
Speaking at Chatham House in London on Monday, Obi made allusion to the small group of corrupt politicians who had held the country to ransom for their selfish interest saying the event was an opportunity to challenge Nigerians toward a new thinking for a better Nigeria..
He spoke on the topic, ‘Nigeria’s 2023 elections: A vision for policy change and institutional reforms’.
According to him, the country is faced with “alarming” insecurity that has led to the loss of many lives and property, a significant decline in food and economic output, immense mental trauma, and in some cases contributed to disaffection with the “Nigerian project.”
“The economy is in crisis with a troubling debt profile worsened by oil theft of proportions once hard to imagine,” Obi said. “Two economic recessions in six years and lamentable power sector have significantly constrained manufacturing and social life.
“The Nigerian state is captive to an elite gang-up and a rental political economy that concentrate power in the hands of those who came to power and influence mainly through their own contrivances and influence, rather than the affirmation of the people and therefore do not have the incentive to serve the people.
“Even after exploiting the ethnic and religious cleavages, sentiments to ascend to political power, the very people on whose sentiments they grab power often become the primary victims of such political fraud that has rendered Nigeria a failing state with worsening leadership crisis.”
Consequently, the former Anambra State governor argued, Nigerian democracy has been on the decline, evident in nationwide tracking that reveals a trend of low voter turnout.
“But this seems to have turned around dramatically last year, allowing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register over 12 million new voters with many more complaining they wish to register but are unable to do so due to INEC’s deadline,” he said.
The LP standard bearer lamented Nigeria’s status as the poverty capital of the world, according to World Bank figures, having surpassed India in 2018.
A November 2022 report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) further indicated that 133 million Nigerians are poor, despite the government reportedly spending N500 billion yearly on social investment programmes.
“This needs to change,” Obi said, adding that what separates poor and rich nations is attributed to health and education.
“But [a rich nation] provides quality health and educational system for a society, committed and focused leadership that can build and sustain public wealth as I was told by Prof. Donald Jacob of Kelloggs School of Management,” he said.
“In many ways, this is the heart of my remarks today, which are deeply rooted in my upbringing, particularly my mother’s consent that I leave a life of positive impact and I manage both personal and public resources most prudently for the sustainable inclusive growth of society.
“It is this principle that guided my stewardship as governor of Anambra State of Nigeria and led to our much-commended performance with some prize awards to show for it.”S Declares Emefiele Wanted – Femi Falana
Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been declared wanted by the Department of State Security Service, DSS, , according to legal luminary, Femi Falana (SAN).
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, Falana alleged that Emefiele who has sneaked out of the country has been quietly declared wanted by the Department of State Services (DSS, also known as State Security Service, SSS) over terrorism financing allegations.
The Human Rights lawyer urged President Muhammadu Buhari to step into the controversy, citing that Nigeria needs to act maturely as so much is expected of the country being ‘Africa’s largest nation’.
“I can say without any fear that Mr Godwin Emefiele is not in Nigeria, but he has been quietly declared wanted by state Security Services.”
“This can only happen in a Banana republic where the CBN Governor would be accused of a grave offence, which is terrorism financing,” Falana said.
Meanwhile, Six Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SANS and and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Defence and Constitutiona , Abubakar Malami have joined many Nigerians in condemning the move by the DSS to arrest the Central Bank Governor.
Malami urged the Security agents to ensure that in carrying out their lawful duty that they observe the rule of law and order, which he said is the foundation of a democratic society..