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Seasoned Constitutional Lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze has declared that
Nigeria is being administered as if it belongs to just one section.
This is as the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated that the
only way democracy can function is for the right thing to be done at all
times.
Speaking during the public lecture in commemoration of the 3rd Anniversary
administration of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in Port Harcourt on Monday,
Professor Nwabueze said that the country belongs to all Nigerians.
He said: ‘We are all Nigerians and we abhor what is happening today. We
want an all-inclusive government.”
The Elder Statesman noted that the promotion of nepotism and sectionalism
is killing the country.
He noted that the country needs to cross the river of pervasion, to stop
the several pervasive actions that undermines democracy.
He said: “It is the pervasion of Section 308 of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria for the residence of a serving governor to be
searched.
“You can investigate the governor, but you cannot execute a search warrant
on the residence of a governor. If the residence of the President cannot
be searched, why should anyone search the residence of a governor?”
Nwabueze said that the salvation of Nigeria rests with youthful leaders
who are expected to drive the development process.
He said: “Governor Wike is one of the young people that can take over. My
generation is gone. My generation cannot save this country. We are
charging Governor Wike as a leader of this generation, with the energy of
youth, to take up the mantle”.
Governor Wike in his remarks, said the will of the people is critical for
the survival of democracy.
He noted that the Rivers State Government will always rise in defence of
the mandate of the people, irrespective of the negative actions of
anti-democratic forces.
The governor noted that it is not in the interest of democracy for the
people to sit idly and allow criminal elements undermine democracy.
“The system in Nigeria has intimidated the judiciary and INEC. If the
people did not resist the invasion of the court, APC and Police would have
gotten away with it”, he said.
He said that opposition leaders in Rivers State play self-centred politics
which makes it difficult for them to appreciate the state-wide development
.
In his lecture titled: “Democracy in Nigeria: Still Many Rivers to Cross”,
Guest Speaker and Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Mathew
Kukah said any assault on the judiciary is the greatest threat to
democracy.
He said Nigerians must find a way of developing a country of democrats
where democratic tenets can thrive.
The cleric said Nigeria needs to invest in the architecture of peace by
making the nation’s environment sufficiently habitable.
Former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili, High Court Judges,
Legislators, Traditional Rulers and the academia attended the event.