The Federal Government has decried serious abuse of the constitution by some political parties in the country. It said that the freedom of thought and conscience guaranteed by the constitution have been gravely abused by political parties fighting to take over power.
President Goodluck Jonathan stated this at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, conference in Calabar, Cross River State.
Represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), the President said, “The quest for power and determination of certain persons and sections of the country to wrestle power from the incumbent political office holders have led to the issuance of all manner of threats with grave implications for our national unity.
“These constitutional rights have unwittingly become tools in the hands of politicians in the polity.”
According to him, “Democracy and liberalism that it engenders in the political space have also brought about its own challenges, especially to the unity and corporate existence of our nation.
“The freedom of expression, association and freedom of thought and conscience guaranteed by the Constitution, have unwittingly become tools in the hands of politicians and their associates to promote division, hatred, and discontentment in the polity.”
He identified challenges facing the administration to include the security of lives and property in the face of increasing global terrorism, how to protect people’s rights and liberties in the midst of competing social norms, and how to achieve economic development and improvement in living conditions.
He said: “Another major challenge to our nationhood is how to improve on the living conditions of our people. Our Constitution clearly provides that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“Although this administration has unveiled a programme of action to deal with these issues, it is obvious that success can only be achieved with concerted efforts from the public and private sectors to deal with these developmental challenges.
Senate President, David Mark, represented by Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), called on those insisting on a sovereign national conference to forget about it in the meantime.
On his part, House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, said that “In the face of stupendous wealth, resources and potential with which we could build a united nation of prosperous people, we are indirectly but gradually building two nations in one.
“There is a nation of prosperity and affluence on the one hand and another nation of poverty and squalor on the other. Yet our desire and expectation is nation building.”
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar decried what he called a consistent and progressive marginalisation of the vast majority of Nigerians.
According to him, the discrimination has brought about policies which encourage “inequitable interpersonal and inter-regional distribution of opportunities.”
“This has created situations that propagate rural poverty, urban squalor and general discontent on the one hand, indiscipline, corruption, ostentatious living on the other and social tension and insecurity on the whole,” he added.
Comments