Blames military, politicians for nation’s woes
Former top Police Officer and the ex- Chairman of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has slammed
pessimists who have variously predicted doom for the future of Nigeria, saying
that Nigeria is not a failed state. He said rather, Nigeria has the potential
of achieving progress based on its abundant natural resources and population.
Ribadu who made the declaration spoke while delivering a lecture at the 2013
Nigeria Independence anniversary celebration lecture organised by Shell Club in
Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has slammed
pessimists who have variously predicted doom for the future of Nigeria, saying
that Nigeria is not a failed state. He said rather, Nigeria has the potential
of achieving progress based on its abundant natural resources and population.
Ribadu who made the declaration spoke while delivering a lecture at the 2013
Nigeria Independence anniversary celebration lecture organised by Shell Club in
Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
He also blamed the military and politicians who had at
certain periods taken over the rein of power in the country since independence
for deviating from the set course of the founding fathers of the country, to
live in common purpose.
certain periods taken over the rein of power in the country since independence
for deviating from the set course of the founding fathers of the country, to
live in common purpose.
Taking a swipe at pessimists, he said the country had the
potential of becoming one of the leading economies of the world if its
resources were properly harnessed. “This is not to give in to pessimism; I
strongly disagree with those writing off Nigeria as a failed country. Agreed,
we could do a lot better based on what we have in terms of natural resources
and demographic advantages.
potential of becoming one of the leading economies of the world if its
resources were properly harnessed. “This is not to give in to pessimism; I
strongly disagree with those writing off Nigeria as a failed country. Agreed,
we could do a lot better based on what we have in terms of natural resources
and demographic advantages.
Nigeria stands on a foundation built by our founding
fathers, who in their wisdom also salvaged and formed a stack of bricks with
which we are to build the nation up. But the generations following our founding
fathers used those bricks only to form ever more insidious fences that divide
us across the lines of ethnicities, regions, and religions.
fathers, who in their wisdom also salvaged and formed a stack of bricks with
which we are to build the nation up. But the generations following our founding
fathers used those bricks only to form ever more insidious fences that divide
us across the lines of ethnicities, regions, and religions.
“Nigeria’s problems have been shifted from the actual,
which is the collapse of our institutions after many years of military,
political, and bureaucratic impudence, to an invented assumption which suggests
that our peoples are unwilling to live together,’’ he said. He also explained
to his audience that the vision and challenges of the ordinary of Nigerian does
not have any form of colouration, but a common goal and purpose, which is to
have access to better things in life.
which is the collapse of our institutions after many years of military,
political, and bureaucratic impudence, to an invented assumption which suggests
that our peoples are unwilling to live together,’’ he said. He also explained
to his audience that the vision and challenges of the ordinary of Nigerian does
not have any form of colouration, but a common goal and purpose, which is to
have access to better things in life.
“The foundation of this country, contrary to whatever is
schemed to uproot it, can only be understood when you go round the country and
interact with the larger masses, who are the actual patriots, from markets to
schools, and to social gatherings where identifications are based only on
individualities. Our people are bound by a common goal, the desire to have
their lives improved. They are united in the same struggle to have functional
public and private institutions because their sufferings, their poverty and
deprivations, have neither ethnic nor religious identities.
schemed to uproot it, can only be understood when you go round the country and
interact with the larger masses, who are the actual patriots, from markets to
schools, and to social gatherings where identifications are based only on
individualities. Our people are bound by a common goal, the desire to have
their lives improved. They are united in the same struggle to have functional
public and private institutions because their sufferings, their poverty and
deprivations, have neither ethnic nor religious identities.
The exclusive sufferings amongst them, like insecurity as
a result of religious and ethnic differences, can as well be traced to our
politics and ill-advised political decisions and indecision,” Ribadu said. He
expressed regrets that Nigeria, known for its abundant natural resources was
now known for violence, especially Boko Haram, oil theft, kidnapping,
corruption and other criminal acts due to poverty and misuse of public funds.
The former EFCC boss, extolled the resilience of the average Nigerians, but noted
that there is widespread poverty in the land because its resources had been
misused.
a result of religious and ethnic differences, can as well be traced to our
politics and ill-advised political decisions and indecision,” Ribadu said. He
expressed regrets that Nigeria, known for its abundant natural resources was
now known for violence, especially Boko Haram, oil theft, kidnapping,
corruption and other criminal acts due to poverty and misuse of public funds.
The former EFCC boss, extolled the resilience of the average Nigerians, but noted
that there is widespread poverty in the land because its resources had been
misused.
Source: National Mirror
