Gboyega Akinsanmi
Pro-Nigeria Group (PNG), a movement of nationalists and patriots, yesterday disclosed that it was on a mission to rescue Nigeria and mobilise leaders of thought across all geo-political zones to defend the unity of the country.
PNG, however, lamented that the nation’s democracy was still standing on one leg 22 years after, blaming politicians for looting the nation’s commonwealth and disregarding provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
Convener of PNG, Lai Omotola made this remark at the unveiling of the group in Lagos, decrying that 22 years after democracy, politicians had continued to use looted funds to perpetually hold on power in a bid to preserve the loot.
He said: “You will see this as politicians move from opposition to ruling party to escape prosecution. The politicians have decimated our entire institutions from the judiciary to legislature to media to education to healthcare none is working.
“The politicians have blocked separation of powers and have rendered our democracy unworkable. Power is now in the hands of the few by the few and for the few.
“From 1960 to today, Nigeria has been in decline on all indices: the exchange rate, inflation, debt, education, healthcare, price of petrol, insecurity and mortality. We continue on decline.”
Omotola said the 1999 Constitution had not worked because politicians continued to breach it, stressing that if politicians could not obey the constitution, any other constitution would be a waste of time.
On the way forward, according to the convener, the first thing to be done is to fight for real separation of power and returning power to the people.
He said there was a need for the government to scrap all State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), lamenting that they had become tools in the hands of all state governors to put local governments in their pockets.
“All elections from ward to presidency should be conducted by INEC. Until we liberate our Local Government, I am sorry, we cannot have a participatory democracy.
He, also, suggested the need “to strengthen the rule of law. The president should allow future Inspector General of police to emerge by succession instead of the highly politicised selection of IG that has diminished the police and we all can see the impact.
“Until the police are reformed along strict professionalism, the issue of rigging on election day and insecurity will persist. Our judiciary should be autonomous to enable rule of law. The fight we should engage in is ensuring the constitution works. Our fight should be in ensuring that democracy works in all ramifications.”
Omotola explained the imperative of convening PNG established to promote Nigeria, which has become unpopular due to agitations by diverse interests across the country.
He said as much as they were entitled to their views and expression of interest, it would only be fair for other views of unity to be heard. He added that the silence of the elite over the unity of this country is wicked and evil.
He said: “This elite have benefited immensely from the country Nigeria and there cannot be a better time for them to voice out. When we decided to form this group, we realised how afraid people have become to mention Nigeria and how people within their minds believe Nigeria is gone.
“There are over a thousand reasons why this country should separate but there is just one reason why the country should not breakaway. The reason is because there is no plan for the separation,” he stated.
“There is a need for new thought leaders. Our thought leaders have expired and until we subject ourselves to critical thinking instead of propaganda and intimidation. I am so sorry the future of this country is bleak.
“This is what we are here for. We cannot continue to fight the same way our forefathers fought. There must be a new path. Tempers are high between the youths and the President with each one taking extreme positions but the best solution does not come in a state of anger.
“We need to engage ourselves, it seems tough but at the same time possible. There is nothing novel in the destruction of lives and property. The best general is one that resolves crises without using a bullet. Our leadership must come up higher.”
Omotola said PNG would be organising the first Pro-Nigeria Summit on October 1, saying the group would be organising National Essay competition on why Nigeria should stay together from primary school category to the university.
Also at the inauguration, a human rights activist, Emmanuel Malagu lamented the problem of ethnic rivalry, conflicts and insecurity rocking the country, saying most Nigerian felt at home in any part of the country in the past.
