- Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife said the only achievement Nigeria can boast of is the country's unity
- Ezeife said Nigeria has experienced the worst era of its existence so far in the last two years
- He claimed that the anti-graft war is the only thing the Buhari's administration is getting right
The former governor of Anambra state under the Nigerian Third Republic, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said the only achievement of Nigeria at 57, is the country's unity.
Ezeife, in an interview with Felix Nwaneri of New Telegraph, said Nigeria has witnessed the worst era ever in the last two years, under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said: "We have recorded a major achievement by still been in existence as a nation. The Igbos by accepting impossible marginalisation, dehumanisation and humiliation, have sacrificed for the survival of Nigeria.
"The Yoruba have also sacrificed for the survival of Nigeria. The Hausa/Fulani by putting on the psychosis of superiority could also be said to have sacrificed for the survival of Nigeria. Our greatest achievement so far is being together as a country called Nigeria.
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"But, when it comes to making progress and development, we have not achieved much. We should have been miles away from where we are today. We should have been miles away educationally from where we are today."
Ezeife, who argued that Nigeria is still lacking in necessary development, claimed that the anti-corruption fight is the only thing working in the last two years.
He said: "We are lacking behind in all facets of development, we have not done well and the last two years has been the worst era we had seen in Nigeria. The only thing positive is the fight against corruption.
"Though the idea of the anti-corruption corruption cannot be faulted, the questions are: Have we fought the war the right way, and, are we winning the war? I support the anticorruption war because graft is the bane of Nigeria’s development, but is should not be restricted to anybody, and we have to make sure that more corruption is not going on now that the ones we are probing."
He advised the president to sit up and work for a better Nigeria which includes the inclusion of all tribes and region in governance.
Ezeife said: "We have to make sure that appointments are by merit, approved by the President and not by those close to him after being induced. So, we need a comprehensive anti-corruption policy because there is the need for a new Nigeria.
"Some Nigerians are making suggestions on how we can get out of this problem but the government seems not to be listening. That is unfortunate. I keep saying that there are possibilities as there is no reason for the situation that we are in at the moment.
"But it behooves on the government to either listen to wise counsel or think out of the box to move the nation forward."
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Also, prominent Nigerian cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has called for immediate restructuring of the country.
Bakare, who is the serving overseer of The Latter Rain Assembly, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the country before it's too late.
During a church service in honour of Nigeria's 57th independence anniversary, Bakare, in a sermon titled, “Pragmatic Steps Towards Restructuring Nigeria,” said the buck to reform the country falls on the president.
Watch this NAIJ.com video to see how Nigerians are celebrating Independence day:
Source: Naij.com