The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, the Most Rev Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said Nigeria must address the peculiarities around the kind of democracy it operates so that it can achieve inclusive democratic governance.
Delivering a lecture at the Niger Delta University (NDU), during the third Annual Memorial Public Lecture organised by Niger Delta University in collaboration with the state’s Founding Fathers Forum in honour of Dr Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei, Bishop Kukah described ethnicity, religion and other primordial sentiments as not only potent threats to the practice of true federalism, but serves as sources of unhealthy rivalry.
The theme of the lecture, “Convergence And Coalescence of Federalists As Imperative For The Survival of The Nigerian State”
Bishop Kukah urged Nigerians to be hopeful and work for a better future, stating that provision of critical infrastructure across the country would promote interconnectivity, unity and the overall wellbeing of the citizens.
“The question that we must address is, what is peculiar about our own kind of democracy because there is something peculiar. We have not succeeded yet in managing to erase the corrosive edges of ethnicity.
“Ethnicity remains a very potent weapon and when it remains a source of identity, justification; religion and other forms of identity, the country will remain a largely volatile state full of children who are often comparing what they have because they will always compare themselves and realise that others are doing better than them.”
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, stressed that until stakeholders of Nigeria agree on the system of government to operate that caters for the interests of all sub national units and have respect for the rule of law, democracy would continue to be a mirage.
Represented by his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor argued that Nigeria has not practiced effective federalism right from its independence in 1960.
He argued that nationalists and founding fathers of the country such as Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello pursued more of regional and ethnic interests rather than promoting the practice of true federalism.
Governor Diri, who paid glowing tribute to late Dr Amba Ambaiowei and other founding fathers of the state, noted that without the creation of Bayelsa, the state would not have recorded the significant milestones it had achieved in all spheres of development.
“The nationalists that we revere, did they actually work for federalism? My answer is yes and no. Let me start with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who formed the NCNC and was limited to the Southeast. Chief Awolowo formed the Action Group and was limited to the Southwest. Tafawa Balewa and his cohorts, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, formed the NPC and was limited to the North. Is that federalism?
“Yes, one can say they also worked for federalism because they were thinking of how to emancipate the country from colonial rule.”
The Chairman of the occasion and one-time Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Gabriel Toby, described Dr Ambaiowei as a minority rights advocate and nation builder who played a major pioneering role leading to the creation of Bayelsa State.
According to him, Nigeria is a great country with enormous potential and must strive to profess the principles of of federalism rather than succumb to the extant unitary system which stifles sustainable growth and development in the country.
The immediate past deputy governor and Chairman Bayelsa Elders Council, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), said the creation of Bayelsa State with just eight local government areas should not be seen as a favour but a disservice to the state, considering the enormous economic contributions to the national coffers.
The Vice-Chancellor of Niger Delta University and host of the event, Prof. Allen Agih, expressed appreciation to all who graced the event.
