Insecurity: Nigerians told to collaborate to tackle challenges

Nigerians have been urged to see insecurity and other national challenges in individual spheres, come together and work with the government to find lasting solutions.

Human rights activists and other stakeholders made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at a Public Lecture on “State of the Nation: Deepening Democracy and Accountable Governance” and the official launch of the Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability (EECentre).

The event was part of activities to remember the late labour and human rights activists Comrade Emma Ezeazu who until his death on 18 May 2015 was the General Secretary of the Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE-Nigeria).

Speaking at the event the Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman, said that the struggle for a better society and a better Nigeria is unending and must be sustained by all Nigerians.

“We should jettison our prides and adopt a multi-sectoral approach to solving the nation’s problems,” Lukman said.

On his part, renown political scientist and lecturer, Prof. Sam Egwu, said that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, has performed below expectations and that his appointments were so lopsided that this contributed to national division and he seems unperturbed to address the concerns of Nigerians and the challenges of the nation.

Also, a development expert and the founding Executive Director, ‎African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Dr. Otive Igbuzor, said that the indifference of majority of Nigerians to politics and governance largely contributed to the present challenges confronting the country.

“Many of the politicians are not on twitter or other social media, so they are not touched with the posts and contributions therein. They can only be touched when you go to the villages and ask the people not to support or vote for them, you will see them taking actions,” Igbuzor said.

On her part, the Executive Director of the EECentre, Mma Odi, said that though Nigerians fought for a democracy that would guarantee and create an enabling environment for an active citizenry, vibrant civil society and press that the late Emma Ezeazu stood and fought for, they have less to show for their commitment to democracy.

She said, “After 22 years of civil democratic rule in Nigeria, keen watchers have seriously questioned the character of our democracy and whether the operators of the system have delivered on their promises. They contend that ours is largely a democracy without development, and that huge challenges remain in our election management.”