Nigeria @64: CSOs Berate Successive Political Leaders For Bad Governance, Corruption, Poor Leadership   

Peterclaver Egbochue

Civil Society Organisations have identified bad governance, poor leadership, corruption and insecurity as some of the causes of the current economic woes of the Nigerian masses.

The group made the submission at an event in Lagos on Monday to mark the 64th independence anniversary of Nigeria with the theme “Nigeria@ 64: Is Nigerian independence a blessing or curse”organized by the Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation, (AMPEF).

The group includes, Ambassadors for Peace and Enlightenment Foundation, AMPEF, led by Comrade Savior Iche, Comrade Olusegun Adeeko, chairman/lead activist, Know Your Right for Justice (KnoRights); Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Adams, National Amir Muslim Initiative on Rights and Justice (MIRAJ), Comrade Lucky Ehigina, president, Christian Rights of Justice of Nigeria (CRJN); and Comrade Ajimotokin Bankole, Centre for Economic and Human Rights Advancement (CHERA).

The guest speaker at the event, Comrade Afolabi Gbajumo, the lead activist, Africans for Human Rights International, (AfriRights) berated successive Nigerian political leadership for placing personal interest over and above the welfare of the masses.

He further stated that Nigerian leaders are not patriotic but only interested in  amassing wealth for themselves and their family at the detriment of the masses.

The activist noted that more Nigerians are poorer now despite the fact that the country is earning more revenues from exporting oil.

The guest speaker stated that the leaders have, over the years, continued to implement policies and programmes with western interest as against the interest of the Nigerian masses.

He berated the President Tinubu-led administration for the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, which has compounded the economic woes of Nigerians.

In his words, “In as much as the leaders have continually sought for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), no foreigner will invest in our insecure country except with imperial interests to re-enslave the country and engage in huge capital flights in hard currencies to their detriment. So we should stop deceiving ourselves, as I say here, that Nigeria is not yet a truly independent country.

“The basic solutions will not be achieved by relying on failed rulers past or present, but should rest on the masses’ engagement in a peaceful-revolutionary struggle that would transform the country and make governance less expensive and unattractive. We must not be cajoled by ethnic sentiment, religious bigotry, or deceived with a token from their loot to enable sustainably massive advancements.

“From both wings of the misruling class of military and civilian regimes in Nigeria, the bottom line of our experience with them has been their condemnable corruption-upon-corruption, thereby manipulating what ought to be overall blessings into obvious curses from the hard working people they have turned into “monkeys dey work, baboons dey chop.”

In his submission, Comrade Olusegun Adeeko, chairman/lead activist, “Know Your Right for Justice” (KnoRights), noted that the primary purpose of government is to provide welfare and security to the citizens, noting that Nigeria has failed the people in this regard.

According to him, in the last 64years, successive Nigeria governments had failed to steer the ship in the right direction resulting in the poor state of affairs in the country in 64 years.

Comrade Adeeko emphasized the need for unity among the Nigerian masses to oppose their “oppressors” and urged the masses to sustain the struggle until the leaders do the right thing.

Also speaking at the occasion, Comrade Saviour Iche, posited that Nigeria’s independence seems to be a“curse rather than blessing as a result of bad leadership where the government has failed in her duty to provide for the welfare and security of the people.

“There are four nonfunctional refineries in the country; subsidy was removed without proper consideration of its adverse effect on Nigerians. Electricity in many parts of the country is zero compared to neighboring African countries like Ghana and others, the rate of unemployment is at its peak, resulting in mass poverty . Nigeria is at its menopausal stage. It is time for all to stand up for what is right.”

Speaking on the economic policies of the Nigerian government, Iche noted that “A country that takes directive from the Western world and cannot make decisions on her own; a country that takes orders from the IMF to manage her currency; a country that depends mainly on oil to generate income while foreign bodies explore our natural resources to develop their countries; a country that refuses to conduct free and fair elections is a failed state.”

On his part, Comrade Ajimotokin Bankole of the Centre for Economic and Human Rights Advancement (CHERA), noted that political independence has not brought economic independence to the people of Nigeria, adding this is because the leaders have not governed in the interest of the Nigerian people.

 “We have been betrayed by our leaders, and positive expectations have been turned into depression and oppression. I must say that this independence is far from being a blessing,” Ajimotokin lamented.