The people of Southern Kaduna in Kaduna State are excited about the Tinubu administration because of the development it has brought to them, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Dr. Mathew Kukah said yesterday.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently established a federal university in the zone as part of efforts to increase its access to tertiary education and foster development.
Rev. Kukah, who was guest speaker at the 60th birthday colloquium in honour of former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, said the university is the first evidence of government’s presence in Southern Kaduna since the state was created.
He recalled that although Second Republic Governor Balarabe Musa laid the foundation of an important project in the area, it never saw the light of the day before he was impeached.
Rev. Kukah said the excitement about the Tinubu government by the people has justification, saying that the citing of such gigantic project as the university there is unprecedented.
He said: “I come from Southern Kaduna, and my brother, General Martin Luther Agwai’s appointment, was a moment of immense joy for us. In my village, women literally stopped pounding food to celebrate.
President Obasanjo once attended a thanksgiving event for General Agwai after he left the military.
“As he was leaving, I was arriving, and later, when I spoke to him, I thanked him for appointing General Agwai and General Andrew Azazi. He responded, “What are you thanking me for?”
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“The reason we were rejoicing is because, since Kaduna State was created in 1986, there has been little or no industrial presence in Southern Kaduna. The only visible sign of industrialisation was under Governor Balarabe Musa, who began constructing a ginger factory in Kachia. Unfortunately, he was impeached before he could complete the project, and since then, no administration has added even a single block to it. That abandoned ginger factory remains the only evidence of government industrial investment in the entire Southern Kaduna region.”
Kukah added:”This is why, when we hear about new developments, like the recent announcement of a new university in Southern Kaduna, we celebrate. You may wonder why we are so excited, but for us, it is a moment of recognition. For the first time, someone has acknowledged that we, too, belong in the development plan.”
At the lecture held at the Ladi Khalifa Hall, Intercontinental Hotel, Abuja, were former United Nations Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Senator Aminu Tambuwwal, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Chief Achike Udenwa and former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Chief Uche Secondus, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Masari, David Mark, Adolphus Wabara, Dimeji Bankole, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
President Tinubu has extended warm felicitations to the celebrator for his contributions to the development of democracy as a lawmaker.
The President said in a statement by by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, that Ihedioha is a detribalised politician who has worked with people from all works of life.
The President, who highlighted Ihedioha’s over 30 years of experience in politics, legislative affairs, and executive governance, commended his commitment to nation-building and public service.
He said: “Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s staying power lies in his enduring ability to connect and work effectively with Nigerians from all walks of life.
“This defining trait shaped his tenure as a lawmaker, deputy speaker, and governor of Imo State.”
The President said that Ihedioha still has much to contribute to the national growth and development, wishing him good health, strength, and renewed vigour as he marks this milestone.
At the lecture, Anyaoku warned against coup, saying that it is counterproductive.
He said military coups in some sub-Saharan Africa can take the continent back to the 1960s, when military rule was the order of the day.
He also called for a review of the 1999 Constitution to foster true federalism and the management of diversity in Nigeria,
Obasanjo declared that democracy in Africa is not just failing but dying, attributing its decline to the lack of alignment with the African values, culture, and way of life.
He recalled that the traditional governance system that existed in Africa prior to the colonial rule was effectively democratic as it justified Abraham Lincoln’s notion of democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Obasanjo added: “Democracy is meant to be a system of government that delivers to all the people, not just a section of the people, not just a few.
“But what do we have today? Representative democracy has not taken care of everybody.”
“Now, that is not democracy that will endure. so if you are talking of democracy failing in Africa, democracy in Africa has failed and why has it failed?
“It’s because it does not have any aspect of our culture, our way of life, what we stand for, what we believe.”
However, Kukah said: ‘’ Democracy’ is work in progress; democracy gives you the opportunity to try and if you fail, it gives you greater opportunity to correct former mistakes”
Tambuwal said: ‘’When we play by the rules, democracy works: democracy is work in progress.”
He commented on the Senate resolution on the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State, saying that the due process was not followed because the required two-thirds majority of the Senate was not reflected.
He added: ‘’Under President Olusegun Obasanjo, when state of emergency was declared for some states, the National Assembly did the necessary affirmation of the processes with the required two-third majority, with individual members voting to affirm the process.
The Chairman of Thisday Editorial Board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi said the operators of the system are the problem.
He said: “The challenge is how do we ensure that the operators of democratic processes play by the rule.?”
Atiku haiked Ihedioha, saying:“Emeka and I have kept this relationship and till today, I have found him extremely loyal, dedicated and focused. Although sometimes we found ourselves in different political divides, we kept our relationship and I think that testifies with the kind of person Emeka is.”