Juliet Jacob
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria’s economy is suffering because Nigeria is unable to accurately track its oil production due to theft.
This statement was made in Abuja during the launch of a book titled ‘Court and Politics’ authored by Dr. Umar Ardo, a former associate of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Obasanjo, represented by former Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu, expressed concern about the state of the Nigerian economy, stating that over 80 percent of the country’s crude oil is being stolen, despite the allocated quota of about two million barrels per day.
Obasanjo expressed that Nigeria does not necessarily need to switch back to the parliamentary system from the presidential system, but rather Nigerians need to adhere to the rules and create a proper political culture. He emphasized that no system is perfect and each has its own flaws.
As the event’s chairman, Abdullahi highlighted the need to acknowledge and address the failures in the country, stating that it is time to reassess and make changes in order to rescue Nigeria. He also pointed out the concerning issue of Nigeria’s struggle to produce an adequate amount of power despite its large population.
Abdullahi recounted his conversation with the seasoned businessman Aminu Dantata, who expressed frustration towards northerners for letting down the Northern region. Dantata firmly believed that acknowledging this failure was crucial for any progress to occur.
During their meeting, Dantata emphasized that the North must come together to address their shortcomings and find a way forward. He reminisced about a past gathering in 1978 where the discussion on returning to a civilian rule revealed a reluctance to analyze why previous systems had failed. Dantata especially criticized the presidential system which had been in place for 24 years, giving it a failing grade of F9.
Abdullahi emphasized the need to reevaluate strategies to save the nation, while Prince Secondus advocated for judicial reforms to ensure that elections are determined by the people and not the courts. However, Kanu Agabi countered, stating that the judiciary played a vital role in preventing Nigeria from falling apart.
Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo shared how his focus on promoting internal democracy led to his removal as the national chairman of PDP. He believed that with more internal democracy in political parties, the courts would have less involvement in their affairs.
