ATIKU ABUBAKAR INSTRUCTS NIGERIANS TO DEMAND GOOD GOVERNANCE

Adejumo Kabir

The former President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on 6th of march 2017 at the Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University instructed Nigerians to demand good governance.

Alhaji Atiku who guest lecture in the maiden edition of the Ifelaw Annual Dean's Lecture in honour of Professor Ademola Popoola, Dean, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife spoke on the theme: "Exploring the Constitutional Framework for Restructuring Nigeria for sustained Economic Growth And Unity"

The guest lecturer who has served as second democratic elect  Vice President of Federal Republic Nigeria between the year 1999 to 2007 and a co-founder of Intels, an oil servicing business with extensive operations in Nigeria and abroad and founder of American University of Nigeria (AUN),  Yola dispelled some myth that have been thrown around regarding the calls for restructuring of the Nigeria Federation.

The former President said that Nigeria as a country do not need a federal structure that encourages dependency while discouraging hard work, innovation, productivity and competition. He was quoted saying "our challenges are multifaceted and the structure of federation is only one of them, albeit a critical one"

The founder of American University of Nigeria while giving his lecture buttressed it is the right of the people to agitate for what they see as a better Federal system,  that restructuring itself will not automatically guarantee good governance but Nigerians can demand good governance and accountability from leaders.

Alhaji Atiku called for the need to review the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to serve people better because it concentrate too much power and resources at the centre which caused more harm than good to national development, security, peace and stability. "the structure which can be called 'unitary federalism' makes us economically unproductive, indolent, political weak, disunited and unstable", former President said.

However, he provided suggestion that will enhance the capacity of federating units to optimize their ability to provide for people's security and welfare which is mostly agriculture citing Obafemi Awolowo University for example. "the money used to construct this institution was made from cocoa, rubber and other agricultural products.

He advised that the Government should concentrate more on agriculture than oil as most countries now have oil at easy disposal

After his speech, the All Progressive Party National Leader was given an award for his support towards Nigeria education sector. He bought 50 copies of Law Journal with N5,000,000 cash and also promised the Faculty of Law, OAU a 25 seater bus.