Former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has identified the terrible mismanagement of the diversity in the country as the root of Nigeria’s problem, stressing that without justice, equity, and fairness, there can be no peace, not only in Nigeria but anywhere in the world.
He pointed out that having been involved in peacemaking and mediation over the years, he realised that peace, security, and stability were essential ingredients of development. ‘And of course, you will not get performance without development,’ he said.
Obasanjo, who spoke at the National Daily Award in Lagos also attributed Nigeria’s problem to wrong choices that its leaders have made in the past. He said at the time Nigeria was admitted into the United Nations Organisation (UN), it was described as a giant in the Sun, but lamented that the country had not lived up to that tag.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that Nigeria was admitted as a member state of the United Nations on 7 October 1960, having gained independence on October 1 the same year.
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Obasanjo said the award was to encourage Nigerians and show them that despite the situation of the country, there are still some spotlights of excellence that should be recognised and celebrated.
In a related development, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Chinedu Onyeizu, has appealed to the incoming Federal Government to demonstrate fairness, equity, and all-inclusiveness to all geopolitical zones by ensuring political offices are evenly distributed.
Onyeizu, who was LP senatorial candidate for Abia South in the 2023 general election, made the call while speaking with newsmen, yesterday, in Abuja.
Onyeizu, who decried what he described as marginalisation of the South East, said such was responsible for the underdevelopment of the area.
He urged the incoming administration to be fair to the region and treat it as one of the three major ethic groups in the country.
He said even distribution of political offices among the geopolitical zones would accelerate the development of the South East.