Democracy, dictatorship can’t coexist —Kukah

Revd. Father Matthew Hassan Kukah

THE Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, said, yesterday, that democracy and dictatorship cannot coexist, noting Nigeria was treading a dangerous path because young people are feeling disempowered.

Kukah, who spoke at an event organised by The Kukah Centre and Open Society Initiative for West Africa, OSIWA, in Abuja, said: “This is a dangerous path we are treading. Our young people are feeling disempowered. 

‘’We are faced with a nation that is consuming its own children, we are faced with the prospects of an uncertain future. It is impossible, even the worst enemy of Nigeria would never have contemplated that this is where we will be.’’

Kukah said the 2023 elections would give Nigerians another opportunity to think of the mistake they had made.

He said: “Democracy is not an exercise undertaken by good men and women, which is what Nigerians have always fallen victim to — that we are looking for holy men, men of integrity, men of dignity to govern us and we assume that managing a diverse Nigeria does not require some level of deep intellectual reflection and understanding on the complexity in managing a society so energetic.

“This is a dangerous path we are treading. Our young people are feeling disempowered. We are faced with a nation that is consuming its own children, we are faced with the prospects of an uncertain future. 

‘’It is impossible, even the worst enemy of Nigeria would never have contemplated that this is where we will be."

Igboho, Kanu: 'Nigeria’ll be in trouble, if...'

*Says laws on dual citizenship must change

Former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has said that with the intractable agitation for secession in Nigeria, some aspects of the 1999 Constitution were fast becoming a hotbed for activities that could plunge the nation into crisis and damage the unity of the country.

Babagida Aliyu

He said Nigeria was facing internal conflict, adding that for the country to be brought back from the precipice, the laws about dual citizenship and the place of traditional institutions in governance must change.

Speaking at the International Peace, Unity, and Nation-building Conference organised by StandTall Africa Initiative in Abuja, Aliyu explained that some of  the challenges confronting Nigeria had been foretold, but noted that the warnings were ignored.

He said: “We must change some of our laws, especially the aspects that deal with dual citizenship, and the place of traditional rulers in governance.

“Today, everything is collapsing. Those who cause a lot of troubles like the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu; the Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho; and Omoyele Sowore, all have foreign passports. For Kanu, British; for Igboho, German; and for Sowore, American.

“We need to appreciate what is giving them the confidence to create problems for this country. It is because they have come to believe they are no longer purely Nigerians.

“I have looked at the situation and said, ‘Oh, could they have been encouraged by the fact that they will have support somewhere?’ Americans and Europeans value life so much that the moment you are their citizen, they will protect you. 

‘’When Kanu was brought back to Nigeria, the UK High Commissioner in the country made some noise.

“However, Kanu and Igboho are also Nigerians who think secession is the solution to their problems. But they cause trouble along the line and run away, leaving behind those without equal opportunity to escape to face the consequences of their actions.

“So, I am saying we must have a law in place that says public figures and those seeking elective offices must renounce their dual citizenship.”

Strengthening of traditional rulers

The ex-governor also lamented that despite the impeccable intelligence gathering systems of traditional leaders, especially at the grassroots, they had been obliterated from governance and law enforcement.

According to him, the lapse has created room for bandit attacks and wanton killings to thrive in local communities.

He said: “When I was chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, I called for the role of traditional rulers to be captured in the constitution, even if it is in one sentence. But, my appeal was not heeded.

“So, those of us who have the ears of our leaders, please tell them to strengthen the traditional rulers. They have an impeccable way of collecting intelligence.

“You cannot leave them in limbo and expected them to do certain things about the security challenges in the country without giving them the resources to deliver.”

On defection of some govs

On the defection of some serving governors from one political party to another,  Aliyu stated that Nigeria also needed a law that would stop what he described as political prostitution.

He said: “If you’re elected under the mandate of a particular party, you either finish that mandate before you leave the party or you resign to join another one.

“What we are doing is like political prostitution, and the people see it. Politicians mess up in one party and move to another. That is not right.”

Speaking also, the immediate past Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, said it was  lack of care for people’s welfare and poor response of stakeholders to human capital development that was responsible for pockets of crisis in the country.

Shittu said: “So I will use this as a clarion call for our government; education must be made available and compulsory for all. If we fail to educate the children of the poor, they will make it impossible for our own children to sleep with their two eyes closed.  

'Traditional rulers  are handicapped'

But, the Emir of Nasarawa, Ibrahim Jibrin, however, said traditional institutions were not entirely powerless but were handicapped due to lack of resources to solve problems in their domains.

He said:  “I  wouldn’t subscribe to the idea that we (traditional leaders) are powerless. We are not entirely powerless. We are handicapped just as every other organisation in the country.

“But it does not prevent us from performing our duties as responsible citizens and leaders of our various communities. The main handicap is funding." 

‘’However, it should not be seen as an excuse, because with or without adequate funding, we have to struggle as much as possible to give our people that sense of peace and tranquility.

“There is no where in the world you have perfect governance. Even in the most advanced democracy, you still have challenges. So the challenges we are having in Nigeria is something that can be addressed."

Curled from Vanguard