As Nigerians continue to blame the British colonial masters over the woes facing the country, speakers at a one-day Uyo Book Club ‘Open House’ interactive session rather faulted leadership failure and inability to manage diversity as the major causes.
The session which birthed a communiqué at the end of the ‘Open House’ held at Lugard Terrace, Watbridge Hotel, IBB Way, Uyo on Saturday was organised to mark the transition from one administration to another in Nigeria and in Akwa Ibom State.
From the theme of the Open House: Lord Lugard – Hero or Villain: A paradigm on Nigeria’s post inauguration democracy, different speakers took turn to blame the country’s leaders for their inability to manage diversity hence the ensuing woes.
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Recall that Lord Frederick Lugard served as governor and governor-general from 1912 to 1919 in Nigeria.
On January 1, 1914, the governor of both the Northern Nigeria Protectorate and the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, signed a document amalgamating the two, and creating the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
Speakers who did justice to the topical issue included Rt. Hon. Ekong Sampson, Senator-elect, Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District; Dr Udeme Nana, Founder, Uyo Book Club; Miss Imaobong Akpan Akpan, a social commentator; Dr Martin’s Akpan, Chairman of Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency; Dr Etim Frank, a Senior lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Uyo; Dr Emmanuel Akpanobong, Medical Director of St. Athanasius Hospital, Uyo.
The communiqué identified the missing link in Nigeria’s democracy to be the absence of such democratic values as freedom, trust, rule of law, compromise, tolerance, equity among others.’’
It observed that ‘‘whereas there were other countries in the world comprising different ethnic groups but existing peacefully, Nigerian leaders should manage Nigeria’s diversity more objectively, with an abundant mentality and large heartedness, as narrow mindedness, bigotry and clannishness were antithetical to effective nation building.’’
Signed by Helen Benedict Secretary, communiqué committee and Dr. Udeme Nana, it admonished Nigerian politicians to allow Lord Lugard to rest in peace as he cannot be justifiably presented as the problem of Nigeria and Nigerians at this point in history.
It congratulated the incoming President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and appreciated the way and manner which he managed Lagos State as a Governor from 1999-2006, urging him to adopt merit, competence, equity, aptitude and the same attitude of tapping quality Resource persons from all over Nigeria to help him administer the country better than he would meet it.
The communiqué urged Nigerians everywhere to have a common national identity using post genocide Rwanda as an example of different ethnic groups who have now accepted to live as one people.
It further urged Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of reading to enable them become good leaders as leadership skills were embedded in books.
The communiqué called on Nigerians to learn to intentionally take responsibility for their actions and to learn and imbibe democratic values and stop blaming Lord Lugard for the challenges facing the country.
It commended the Patron of the Club, Rt. Hon. Ekong Sampson for his support for the Club and its activities and for recognizing the heroic contributions of several historical figures by naming several Halls in the fast growing hospitality facility in their honour.
Meanwhile, the Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Dr. Ekong Sampson, has identified proper management of diversity and effective leadership as keys to Nigeria’s progress. He also absolved Lord Lugard of any blame to the nation’s current woes.
Ekong going down memory lane x-rayed the contributions of Lugard to the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorate and development of Nigeria, noting that blaming a man who died decades ago for Nigeria’s present woes amounts to lamenting over spilled milk.
“We cannot continue to blame Lord Lugard who died in decades ago and his Mistress Flora Shaw, for our present woes. There is need for proper management of diversity and effective leadership to propel Nigeria’s progress.
‘‘Rather than whining and resigning to a cocoon of helplessness, we should begin to look inward and come up with pragmatic steps to move this nation forward. We need to begin the next tribe as we see ourselves and promote policies that will engender unity, peace, development and inclusiveness,” Ekong said.
The Advisor of WatBridge Hospitality outfit, said Lugard colonised India same as Nigeria but noted that India has since risen from the shackles of colonialism to become one of the greatest nations on planet earth.
He urged political leaders to devolve power from the centre, give more powers to the regions, make the federal government less attractive, ensure inclusiveness and optimal use of resources to ensure development.
“See I am a strong believer of regional integration. Each region should harness resources their zones for development purposes. We should stop whining over foreign principles. Montesquieu, A V Dicey, and the rest have since died.
‘‘We should begin to attempt a design of our home-grown democratic and development principles peculiar to us that will work for us. We should stop whining and the blaming the dead. They won’t come from the grave to help us. Allow the dead to rest in peace,” Ekong concluded.
Similarly, Prof. Etim Frank said the foundation for public finance of present day Nigeria started in 1914 following the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorate.
‘‘The resources of the rich South were used to develop the North who was indolent and produced nothing.
‘‘Till date, the oil resources of the South are still used to develop the North in the name of one Nigeria,’’ Frank pointed out.
Earlier, Nana, the Founder of Uyo Book Club, had observed that a discussion about Lord Frederick Lugard was fundamental and would help the present generation of Nigerians to know the history of Nigeria and connect with it.
Nana, therefore, urged Nigerians to go back to their roots and study history, as there was a lot to learn from Lord Lugard, especially Akwa Ibomites since that Colonial Administrator once lived in Ikot Abasi, in present day Akwa Ibom State.
