Legal luminary, Professor Ben Nwabueze, has appealed to Nigerians to save the nation from imminent collapse that may be caused by corruption and insensitivity of Nigerian leaders.
The constitutional scholar, who spoke at the public presentation of his autobiography in Lagos, on Thursday, also said the centenary celebration being planned by the federal government was unnecessary as there was no dividend of amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914.
He said, “Those born after 1960 may not know much about colonial culture. Do you know what colonialism did to us in this country? “I used my book to describe this in greater detail. We are still living in colonial mentality till today.
“What we are passing through today as a nation is what I can describe as conflict of culture. Colonial culture is trying to wipe out everything about traditional culture.
“We should be concerned about how to transform this country. We have 389 ethnic groups in Nigeria. How do we coalesce them equally? he asked.
“We want to celebrate 1914 amalgamation. What is the significance of amalgamation to us?
He challenged the citizenry to join the struggle to create a new Nigeria that is devoid of corruption, saying, “It is a struggle for all of us. Nobody from outside can help us.
In his remarks, Chairman, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Ogbonnaya Onu, lamented the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, saying the government would have prevented it.
“I am worried that these lecturers could be allowed to go on strike. Many of our children today go to school even in neighbouring countries.” he said.
The book reviewer, Professor Anslem Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman, Nigeria Human Rights Commission, NHRC, praised Nwabueze’s rare talents as a “swimmer, lover, community leader, writer and teacher.”
He added that Nwabueze is a Christian, “who built many churches, but never attends one.”
Comments