State of the nation worries elder statesmen

*Anyaoku calls for new Constitution to stem insecurity

*Afe Babalola berates emerging politicians

BY ORJI ONYEKWERE

Concerned about the worsening state of the nation in terms of citizens’ welfare, and growing insecurity, two prominent elder statesmen, Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary General and Afe Babalola, renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, ABUAD have called for profound attitudinal and structural reforms with a sense of urgency.

The two respected elders offered their voices this weekend during public lectures to mark the convocation ceremony of the Afe Babalola University located in Ekiti State.

In his submission, Anyaoku, now in his late 80s, noted that the way forward for Nigeria is a new constitution to arrest the ongoing deterioration of the situation in the country. The elder statesman believes Nigeria was more united in its early days than it has become today.

While speaking on the topic, “Management of diversity: A major challenge to governance in pluralistic countries,” Anyaoku said Nigeria successfully managed diversity in the early years of independence.

“It is an undeniable fact that Nigeria’s diversity was more successfully managed in the early years of our country’s independence. During that period, Nigeria’s diversity was perceived by all as a source of strength and inspirer of national unity.

“I call on the Presidency in consultation with the National Assembly, instead of continuing to tinker with the 1999 Constitution, to acknowledge the urgent necessity of a new Constitution to be made by the people of Nigeria. To this end, I invite the Federal Government to immediately embark on the following practical steps.

“First, convene a National Constituent Assembly directly elected on non-party basis representatives, whose task would be to discuss and agree to a new Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He opined that before the military intervention, there was a security of lives and properties, and there was a faster pace of economic development in the regions, adding that healthy competition among the regions facilitated rapid development across the country.

In his submission, Afe Babalola berated the class of politicians saddled with leadership in the country today, averring that their primary motivation was accumulating wealth, instead of offering service. He believes politics has become the only lucrative business in Nigeria today.

The ABUAD founder recounted his experience with a first-class graduate who turned down further education after a master’s degree because he saw a secondary school colleague who didn’t go to a higher institution achieve material success in politics.

“I was the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos and a young man came out with first class in Chemistry and had the highest score that year. I called him and said, ‘I am going to give you a scholarship to do your master’s.

“He was very happy and he agreed; he passed his masters. I had forgotten all about him, then he came in and said, ‘Sir, thank you for the scholarship given to me’ and I said ‘Yes, proceed to your Ph.D.’ and he said ‘No’ and I said ‘Why?’

“He said, ‘My colleague who was in class with me in secondary school did not go to university; he is the chairman of the local government of my place. He is riding a car; he has a house.’ I was depressed.

“I said, ‘What do you want to do now?’ He said, ‘I want to go into politics.’ I wept inside me. That is what your country has made of Nigeria. The only business in this country today which is lucrative is politics”.

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Although, he does not disapprove of any political ambitions, Babalola said he believes that politics has become less ethical and more of personal gain than about serving the public good.

“I do not say you cannot be a politician but to be a politician is different from what we have now. Who thinks that politics is for making money? Politics is for service,” the legal icon added.

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