As the nation marked the 32nd anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election on Thursday, speakers at the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) annual commemoration event were unanimous in their call for true federalism as the only solution to the development challenges confronting Nigeria.
Speaking at the 25th edition of the OPC Commemoration of June 12 held in Lagos, the speakers, drawn from various geopolitical segments and ideological leanings, stressed that federalism was the way forward for country.
The theme of this year’s event was ‘June 12 as a Catalyst for National Development: True Federalism and Nigerian’s Integration.’
In his welcome address, National Coordinator of OPC and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, identified four critical sectors in need of urgent restructuring in the polity as judiciary, economy, security and political.
He observed that though changing a country was not a task for the lily-livered, Nigerians had a record of not succumbing to machinations of ‘enemies of the society’.
Adams noted that even if the security challenge of the country was solved, without restructuring, Nigeria would still not become an economic and political giant in the world.
He said: “Without judicial reforms, how will the political class behave? Many of us witnessed judicial rulings coming out before the June 12, 1993 election and even after General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the freest and fairest election on June 23, 1993. We also remember rulings from some judges.”
“But, 32 years after those rulings by these judges who were obviously compromised, are our current judges any better? Are judgements oozing out of courts these days not becoming a complete embarrassment to average Nigerians?” he queried.
Speaking further, Iba Adams urged all Nigerians, irrespective of political parties or affiliations, not to be weary, but to remain patriotic in their quest for restructuring.
“We are here today to tell those in the corridors of power that as long as they refuse to do the right thing, we will not stop talking.
“We must constantly remind ourselves that resistance is an endless and continuous battle. To transform a country, the shape or form of the polity must change periodically. Nigeria is going through various crises today because some leaders are stubbornly against restructuring.
“In honour of Abiola and other martyrs, I want to say it pointedly that whether anybody likes it or not, this country will be restructured. And the earlier this is done, the better for all of us because there is no way we can guarantee peace and security if this country is not restructured,” Adams said.
President, Women Arise, Joe Okei-Odumakin, in her address, restated her call for the recognition of the late MKO Abiola as a past president of Nigeria, with his image adorning the requisite government offices and structures.
She also maintained that restructuring remained the only way for Nigeria to make true progress, maintaining that this must remain our battle cry.
While stressing that the people who paid the supreme price for the return of the country to democracy must not be allowed to die in vain, Okei-Odumakin called for restructuring of the country’s security architecture.
“There must be security of lives and property. Insecurity is becoming an embarrassment in this country and I know this menace will become a thing of the past if this country is restructured. Our constitution must also be tinkered with to have a people’s constitution,” she added.
On his part, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), noted that history would be kind to the OPC for what it achieved in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate and how it has kept the memory alive over the years.
Falana, who was represented by Dr Wale Adeoye, Executive Director, Peace and Development Project (PDP), bemoaned the flawed constitution that Nigeria currently operates.
Falana noted that the current flawed constitution remained one reason why the country has not progressed. He called for a truly representative constitution as a bedrock for true development.
Retired political science professor and research professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Femi Otubanjo also called for a change of the nation’s political system.
He, however, said the best option would be for the country to separate, declaring that Nigeria as presently constituted would fail.
“June 12 was a human right struggle to share in the control of a flawed federation,” Otubanjo said.
Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Prof Ilupeju Akanbi, called for pragmatism in the annual remembrance of June 12.
He noted that what June 12 bequeathed to us is the reality that the people have the power to determine the direction and future of the country.
He challenged Nigerians to be prepared to vote in future elections and defend their votes to ensure they count.
Other speakers at the event include the Vice President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Kudu Abubakar; leader of the Igbo speaking community in Lagos, Chief Sunday Udeh and executive director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran among others.
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