By Friday Omakpo
In attempts towards strengthening a united Nigeria Front through advocacy and campaigns, “One Nigeria Forum” has called for a better social system and good governance in order to build a greater Nigeria.
The call was officially made during the unveiling of the forum’s First National delegates conference 2023.
High Chief Sunnie Chukwumele, Chairman of the group, lamented over the poor state of the country, the economic, sociocultural and religious hardship and divisions on the citizens by enemies of Nigeria’s unity and progress.
The country according to him had suffered delibrate consequences of policy summersault, leading to what the legendary Bob Marley in his song described as “One step forward, nine step backward.
“No nation has advanced with the kind of poor governance and leadership attitude.
“Nigeria today is so terribly divided. This division among tribal, ethnics and religious lines cannot help our transmutation into a natelesaidis is the kind of country inherited by President Bola Tinubu.
“We anticipated that the President should do all those things he stood for and agitated for long before assuming the saddled of Presidential leadership in Nigeria.
“These are in areas such as true federalism, devolution of power, judicial autonomy, local government autonomy, abrogation of state electoral commissions, finding a constitutional role for traditional rulers.
While making further call for Nigeria’s unity, Chukwumele pushed for credible State Electoral Commission, with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the forthcoming off season elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.
The forum through its convener continued that One Nigeria Forum s a group of compatriots and comrades who came across each other on the political turf during the buildup to the last Presidential race.
He said that the individual who constituted the group had rising from diverse backgrounds, and having built a bond and faith in the future of the country, based on their individual collective convictions for a better Nigeria.
The Chairman said that the like minds having considered some interesting and positive variables, have agreed to foster and bolster their belief in the country and its future.
Alhaji Majeed Dahiru, who gave the keynote address, stated that Nigeria has not attained the purpose of its vision as a result of lack of unity among the different tribes in the country, adding that there is no country in the world that has attained capital development without national unity of the people therein.
“The ultimate task ahead of those who are in power should revolve on how to build the country.
“Nigerians need a consensus to change the elite conspiracy, as there is need to build a united Nigeria from bottom to the top.
Also, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Daybreak Nigeria and Public Affairs Analyst, Dr. Austin Maho, noted that the country’s democracy is in dire need of overhaul.
In his words, “Nigeria needs true democracy, adding that as it is now, Nigerians are not enjoying the kind of democracy they bid and campaign for.
He further explained that what the country is practicing at the moment is not a true democracy, but a government for the few elites
“What we see in the last few years is government of the elite, for the elite and by the elite, we are having a situation whereby you find out that we are now having a generational transfer of power.
“This is not the democracy we bid for, we campaign for, democracy should be people centred and that is why it is define as government of the people, for the people and by the people.
“When democracy is no longer people centred, then the essence is lost,, and I think that a group like this, “One Nigeria Forum” should push for the true democracy.”