Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr.
Doyin Okupe on Monday described the comments by elder statesman, Prof. Ben
Nwabueze that Nigeria is sliding into a failed state as a gross act of
irresponsible and demonstration of lack of patriotism, arguing that available
facts and figures do not suggest anything of such.
Doyin Okupe on Monday described the comments by elder statesman, Prof. Ben
Nwabueze that Nigeria is sliding into a failed state as a gross act of
irresponsible and demonstration of lack of patriotism, arguing that available
facts and figures do not suggest anything of such.
He said those describing Nigeria as a failed
state or that it is nearing this are wishing and dreaming evil for the country,
adding that this would not come to pass
state or that it is nearing this are wishing and dreaming evil for the country,
adding that this would not come to pass
Also, Osaro Onaiwu, the Special Adviser on
governors and governance to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), has described as unpatriotic, the recent statements credited to
some eminent Nigerians that Nigeria is becoming a failing state.
governors and governance to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), has described as unpatriotic, the recent statements credited to
some eminent Nigerians that Nigeria is becoming a failing state.
Prof. Nwabueze had, at the 14th Annual
Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) in Enugu on Saturday, stated that
Nigeria was fast sliding into a failed state.
Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) in Enugu on Saturday, stated that
Nigeria was fast sliding into a failed state.
His words: “This country is on the verge of
becoming a failed state, there are so many failed states in Africa and Nigeria
is on the verge of getting that status of a failed state.
becoming a failed state, there are so many failed states in Africa and Nigeria
is on the verge of getting that status of a failed state.
“Before now, we didn’t know about kidnapping,
but it has become a way of life. Did we know about bombings before? But today,
churches, schools, offices are being bombed on daily basis; the worst is that
the bombers are not coming from outside the country, we are bombing ourselves.
but it has become a way of life. Did we know about bombings before? But today,
churches, schools, offices are being bombed on daily basis; the worst is that
the bombers are not coming from outside the country, we are bombing ourselves.
“A nation that cannot provide a credible
election for her people is a failed state. In 2003, 2011 we had no credible
elections, yet we are talking about democracy. A country that cannot secure
social and economic rights for her people is a failed state. Read chapter 2 of
Nigeria’s constitution and you will understand what I am talking about, they
are not leaders but looters,” he said.
election for her people is a failed state. In 2003, 2011 we had no credible
elections, yet we are talking about democracy. A country that cannot secure
social and economic rights for her people is a failed state. Read chapter 2 of
Nigeria’s constitution and you will understand what I am talking about, they
are not leaders but looters,” he said.
Also, he said, “corruption was another
disturbing issue in the country and any state that allows this kind of
unbridled corruption is failing.”
disturbing issue in the country and any state that allows this kind of
unbridled corruption is failing.”
But Okupe, in his reaction, stated that the
indices in the country do not in any way suggest that Nigeria is a failed state
or is moving nearer it.
indices in the country do not in any way suggest that Nigeria is a failed state
or is moving nearer it.
According to Okupe, “A failed state is where
there is erosion of legitimate authority, where there is instability and the
country cannot afford to provide public services like the provision of light,
good roads, water supply and security services.
there is erosion of legitimate authority, where there is instability and the
country cannot afford to provide public services like the provision of light,
good roads, water supply and security services.
“In Nigeria, there is a serving National
Assembly and States’ Assemblies, providing quality legislative services and
issuing out good and quality legislature for the good governance of the country
and the states.
Assembly and States’ Assemblies, providing quality legislative services and
issuing out good and quality legislature for the good governance of the country
and the states.
“There are guarantee laws and services in
Nigeria, even in states of Borno and Yobe where there are security challenges
like the Boko Haram. Even today, Nigeria is providing security services to
Mali. All these have not suggested any iota of failed state. They are dreaming
negative dreams for the country and it will not happen”.
Nigeria, even in states of Borno and Yobe where there are security challenges
like the Boko Haram. Even today, Nigeria is providing security services to
Mali. All these have not suggested any iota of failed state. They are dreaming
negative dreams for the country and it will not happen”.
Further he said, “none of the indices of
failed state is applicable to Nigeria. There is no breakdown of law and order
in Nigeria”.
failed state is applicable to Nigeria. There is no breakdown of law and order
in Nigeria”.
Reacting also to the position of the elder
statesman, Onaiwu lamented that while nationals of other countries find ways to
prop up their countries, Nigerians are in the habit of running down their
country.
statesman, Onaiwu lamented that while nationals of other countries find ways to
prop up their countries, Nigerians are in the habit of running down their
country.
He further said this was even more
disturbing, knowing that some of these statements are coming from elders who
contributed to the decimation of Nigeria during their service to various
undemocratic regimes in the past.
disturbing, knowing that some of these statements are coming from elders who
contributed to the decimation of Nigeria during their service to various
undemocratic regimes in the past.
His words: “Now that our democracy is
displaying stability even in its infancy, these statesmen should be thankful to
this government for tackling some of the fundamental problems that were thrown
at us by regimes that were not accountable to anybody. Problems that we all
know cannot be solved overnight”.
displaying stability even in its infancy, these statesmen should be thankful to
this government for tackling some of the fundamental problems that were thrown
at us by regimes that were not accountable to anybody. Problems that we all
know cannot be solved overnight”.
He also posited that a better way to
determine whether Nigeria is a failing state or not is to look at the Foreign
Direct Investment, which he said is already over $9 billion and is the largest
in Africa. “I doubt if all these foreigners pumping money into our country
think Nigeria is a failing state”.
determine whether Nigeria is a failing state or not is to look at the Foreign
Direct Investment, which he said is already over $9 billion and is the largest
in Africa. “I doubt if all these foreigners pumping money into our country
think Nigeria is a failing state”.
According to him, what the foreigners see is
a fledgling democracy doing her best to bring prosperity to her people,
“they see better communication, they see better transportation, they see a
pool of educated youths, they see improvement in power and security amongst
others” Onaiwu concluded.
a fledgling democracy doing her best to bring prosperity to her people,
“they see better communication, they see better transportation, they see a
pool of educated youths, they see improvement in power and security amongst
others” Onaiwu concluded.
He called on those who say Nigeria is a
failing state to visit states like Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Jigawa, Edo, Kano, Gombe
and others that are working hard to bring development to their people and see
if the people of these states will agree that we are a failing state.
failing state to visit states like Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Jigawa, Edo, Kano, Gombe
and others that are working hard to bring development to their people and see
if the people of these states will agree that we are a failing state.
Source: Compass
