The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peter Obi

  • Obiano has failed the people – Peter Obi

    The Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has failed the people that massively voted him into power. His governance has hugely deviated from the people-oriented vision to slip back to the days where governance was an enterprise.  This is the view of Mr. Peter Obi, the former governor of the state, who incidentally handed over to Obiano.

    Speaking to stakeholders of Awka North on September 23, 2017, while on a ‘Thank You’ tour of Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, Obi, who was making his first public disagreement with his successor’s style of governance, said: ‘’Governance is about performance…when you show people what you have done, they will then trust you with whatever you promise to do more. But when you haven’t done much, you have no locus standi to ask for extension,” he said.

    On his mission, Obi said: ‘’I’m here today to say thank you for electing OselokaObaze as candidate and promise you that I’m out for the campaign till the very end of it. By the grace of God, PDP will regain the state they lost to me through my assistance again. And by electing a man of the calibre of Obaze, you have already crossed the big hurdle of reputable candidacy. As the SSG during two years of my regime, here is the man behind most of the strings we pulled while mainstreaming MDGs into our ANIDS-propelled successes. He will effortlessly bring the glory days back and pursue the on-going SDGs with the required drive and attention to make it achievable in our state.’’

  • About Peter Obi, Obiano

    About Peter Obi, Obiano

    THE Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci once said that poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master. The governor of Anambra State, Willy Obiano, seems to have taken this nugget to heart as he prepares for the mother of all showdowns with his erstwhile political godfather Peter Obi.

    Not too long ago, Obi and Obiano were a beautiful tag team who together wrestled the other gladiators in Anambra politics into submission.

    During Obi’s eight-year reign, Obiano was the faithful lieutenant, helping his boss to deliver beautiful governance dividends while also learning the ropes from the master. But their relationship turned sour soon after Obiano assumed power as the executive governor of the state tagged the Light of the Nation. The erstwhile partners turned into foes with Obi defecting from APGA to the PDP.

    Come November 18, the former close pals will have a winner-takes-all face-off in the state’s version of Wrestlemania. Obiano will be gunning for a second term, while Obi will be deploying his heavy artillery in a bid to fire the PDP candidate, Oseloka Obaze, to victory.

  • I didn’t demand N7bn from Obiano – Peter Obi

    I didn’t demand N7bn from Obiano – Peter Obi

    A former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, said on Wednesday he did not demand for N7billion from his successor, Willie Obiano.

    The ex-governor said he left about $156million in bank, N25billion cash and N25billion in local investment for his successor.

    Obi said he has never supported any candidate for personal benefits.

    He also denied nursing ambition to be the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.

    Obi, who made the clarifications in a chat with journalists in Abuja, asked Governor Obiano to join him in church and swear an oath on the N7billion controversy.

    He said: “Let me ask a question, you all are educated and it is on record in this country and documented, I can prove it with every clear documented evidence that when I left office , I left over N25billion in local investment for Anambra State. I left over N25 billion in cash in the bank. I also left $156 million in the bank in Nigeria. Do you think anyone can leave such money and go to beg the person he is handing over to give him N7 billion when I left over N75 billion?

    “I would have taken the N7billion first, then give them the balance and I will still be in good shape. Let me use the dollar as example. Nobody has ever left $1 in any state in Nigeria. I left $156 million. About  $30million alone is over N7billion. If I had taken chances and left $120million, I will still be a champion. So why will I leave that one and go begging for peanut?

    “Why would I need the money and then go to beg the person I handed over to give me N7billion?  I would have taken it. Let us be rational about all these.

    “What is the idea behind this? It is sheer madness for anybody to do it. Not even in a family business, I cannot leave money and then go back to beg my brother talk less of handing over to somebody who is not my brother and who can change tomorrow.

    “So, it is sheer blackmail, I have never and I am a Christian.  I am not supposed to swear but I can put my hand in any form of oath to say I have never discussed with anybody to be paid any amount. Let Obiano himself come, let us go before hierarchy of our church or anything to swear. I have never done that and I will never do it.

    “At this stage of my life, I cannot support anybody’s political aspiration for personal benefits. I have passed that stage. God has been very gracious to me. I did not go into politics in need. I was already a director in three financial institutions, a director in four other major companies out of which it was by the virtue of my investment I was running a successful family business.”

    “If anything, going into politics made me poorer but I won’t question anything because that is where God wants me to be.

    “Whatever happens to me is God’s design and I respect that. For me, all I want is for us to have a better society; caring for the poor, caring for the people.”

     

  • Only court can stop my governorship ambition – Ifeanyi Ubah

    Only court can stop my governorship ambition – Ifeanyi Ubah

    A governorship aspirant on Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) platform in the forthcoming poll in Anambra, Mr Ifeanyi Ubah, said only the court could stop his ambition.

    He alleged that the party’s primary election conducted to pick its candidate for the poll, was fraught with irregularities and that the party leadership had refused to address his complaints on it.

    Ubah made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, and said that he would continue with his aspiration until his complaints were addressed by the party.

    He said that he would approach the court to seek his right after exhausting all the internal mechanisms to address the issues as stipulated in PDP Constitution.

    He said that he had contacted party leaders, Board of Trustees members as well as appeared at the party’s primary election Appeal Panel, but that his concerns had not been addressed.

    “I will be going to court to seek redress; only the court will determine the party’s candidate or the party should come back to us and addresses the irregularities.

    “They know that the person they have chosen has no requisite to be the party’s candidate. It is their responsibility to right the wrong,’’ he said.

    Ubah, who is the Chairman of Capital Oil, said that he would pursue the legal angle on the matter for himself and other Nigerians that may also be treated in the same manner in future.

    “I am doing this not just because of me but because all the political parties will not act the same way PDP has done. If we continue to allow issues like this, people will continue to suffer over impunity.’’

    Ubah said that Mr Oseloka Obaze, who was declared winner of the primary election and upheld by the party’s Appeal Panel, did not emerge through a transparent, free and fair means, describing the primary as “a fraudulent exercise.”

    He said that he noticed some irregularities in the primary, including overnight change of delegates’ list, and alleged that the delegates used for the election were different from those on Certified True Copy list he obtained.

    He added that people that lodged the complaints at the primary election venue were chased away with tear gas.

    “They use that opportunity to smuggle in people. We have 326 wards in Anambra, and even if we had three delegates per wards, we will have 678 delegates, not 958.

    “Also in the party’s Constitution there is what we call statutory delegates who are over 400, they were all cut off.

    “What they did was that they gave black marks on the fingers of those they wanted in, and by the time they call you in and if you don’t have those marks they pushed you away.

    “All complaints on these issues were ignored.’’

    Ubah said that he remained the best candidate of PDP for the election in the state “because we are closer to the people, and have invested in the party and in the people’’.

    He accused former governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi and Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers of imposing an unpopular candidate on the delegates.

    “Sadly, an election which was supposed to provide a level-playing field for all seven aspirants cleared for the race turned to a dance of shame.

    “All these represent the greatest act of impunity bearing in mind the fact that the party had began to gain sympathy from Nigerians.’’

    On the allegation that he was hobnobbing with other political parties, Ubah said that as a business man, he was free to relate with any political party and the Federal Government.

  • How to stabilise Nigeria’s economy – Obi

    How to stabilise Nigeria’s economy – Obi

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Peter Obi the country needs to save aggressively, diversify the economy into knowledge based exports and invest in developmental education to come out survive the present economic challenges. 

    He stated this at the first annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), held in Lagos on Thursday. 

    According to the Obi, failure to save well enough, and failure to invest well in developmental education is responsible for our current economic situation. 

    “The Nigerian economy has for the past decades been growing until the country recently experienced the economic recession.  From August 2016, Nigeria experienced negative growth in the economy, because we failed to save for the rainy days, as countries as China, South Korea, Thailand did as at the 1980’s.

    “So for us to bounce back economically as a nation, we must save be able to aggressively, diversify the economy into knowledge based exports and invest in developmental education. Our economy is fairly diversified. The oil is actually contributing 80% of our GDP”

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in his speech said that the federal government is committed in making a paradigm shift in the economy, as it pays attention to agriculture.

    Represented by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Mohammed noted that when the economy is affected positively or negatively, the first sector to be affected is the media. He further commended GOCOP for coming under one platform to chart the course of online journalism.

    He further commended GOCOP for coming under one platform to chart the course of online journalism.

    “I commend GOCOP for coming together, but I appeal that GOCOP establish a code of conduct for online publishers and bloggers as it was done years ago, to avoid the spread of false news and deceits around.

    ” I charge online newspapers to find a way of posting stories that are catchier to the eyes, such that anyone that sees the headline would not resist it. This will make online papers take the lead from the social media handles, which are on top in terms of making money today.

    The event, which was attended by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, representatives of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Inspector General of Police, ended with the inauguration of the new executives of GOCOP.

  • Anambra 2017: PDP’s Obaze unveils manifesto, promises economic viability

    Anambra 2017: PDP’s Obaze unveils manifesto, promises economic viability

    Mr Oseloka Obaze, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant in the Nov.18 governorship election in Anambra has said that if elected, his administration would be premised on principles for good governance and economic viability.

    In the manifesto, entitled “Anambra Deserves Better’’, which was made available to newsmen on Friday in Awka, Obaze disclosed that his administration would be hinged on “authentic continuity, good governance, public ownership, inclusive governance and free press’’.

    He added that that he was on a mission of one term of four years service to the state as governor.

    Obaze, an advocate for Good Governance and a Policy Consultant, said that he had identified 15 core areas that encompass activities and the benefits to be delivered to the people and would tackle that proactively.

    He noted that the core areas were in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

    Obaze said: “I hereby set out my core compact with Ndi Anambra’’, consisting of five basics principles predicated on globally accepted best practices of good governance.

    “Since the essence of governance is to serve the people, I have also identified 15 core areas encompassing activities and deliverables which my government must tackle proactively in the public interest in these four years I intend to serve.

    “These are in tandem with the U.N. SDGs,’’ he said.

    The former diplomat promised to re-enact the Anambra Integrated Strategy (ANIDS) of former Gov. Peter Obi to implement the SDGs policy in the state.

    According to him, he will provide authentic continuity and consolidation in development, finance, economy, infrastructure, education and health gains made by successive governments in Anambra, especially the Peter Obi administration.

    “I promise to ensure stability, civility, frugality, transparency, political tolerance, diverse views at all levels and public expenditure will be result-based and project-driven.

    “I will uphold the bond of performance between the government and its people, provide and deliver proactively through adaptive leadership, adequate, efficient and effective delivery of infrastructure.

    “My government will insist on inclusivity, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, equity, accountability, and strategic vision with a view to bridging the trust gap between the people and the government.

    “It is my belief that Anambra Government must belong to Ndi Anambra; I offer to translate the viewpoint, values and needs of Ndi Anambra to core policies that serve collective interest and guarantee equity at all levels,’’ he said.

    Obaze said that representation in government would reflect gender balance, equity, non-partisanship and based on clear merit.

    “My government will promote the respect for the various branches and tiers of government and support the oversight responsibilities of the legislature, independence of the judiciary and the autonomy of the local government.

    “Local Government Elections in the state would be promptly conducted to introduce and support the Charter of Townships and conversion of the present Town Union President-General System to a more operational, self-supporting and self-accounting to enhance grassroots governance and development.

    “Finally, freedom of expression, access to information will be guaranteed with a view to making government business less opaque; we will make government and its business more transparent and accountable,’’ he said.

    He said that if elected governor, he would send an Executive Bill to the Anambra State House of Assembly that would underline the rights of public access to information.

    “In this context, every person shall have a right of access to information without prejudice to state security.’’

  • Obi charges pharmacists on national devt 

    Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has commended pharmacists for their efforts and contributions towards the health sector.

    He urged them to do more towards self-sufficiency in the raw materials required for production in the industry as well as finished goods needed by the nation.

    Obi was speaking on Weathering the storm of economic downturn: now and beyond at the 2017 annual dinner of the Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in Abuja.

    Reviewing the ups and downs in the industry, Obi submitted a lot still needed to be done.

    He said it was not cheering that countries like India and China, once at par with Nigeria in development of the pharmaceutical industry, had all recorded phenomenal growth while Nigeria, buffeted by adverse environment, did not record appreciable progress.

    Comparing the contribution of the industry to the economic growth of countries under reference, the ex-governor said: “Nigeria’s GDP is about $400 billion and the pharmaceutical industry contributes 0.25- 0.30 percent, which is about $1 – 1.2 billion.

    “The GDP of China is about $12 trillion and its pharmaceutical industry contributes 1% – 1.25 percent, being $120-150 billion while the GDP of India is about $2.3 trillion with its pharmaceutical industry contributing about 2 percent ($40 billion).”

    He urged the nation’s pharmaceutical industry to strive hard towards attaining at least 1percent status of her country’s GDP, which would equal about $4 billion dollars.

    Revealing local manufacturers covered only 20percent of the nation’s needs with virtually all the raw materials being imported, he charged them to seek ways to increase local production with local inputs above 50 percent by the year 2030 when Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs) will be completing.

    Obi called on them to push further by studying whatever magic China and India did to get to where they are today.

  • Save in spite of economic recession —Peter Obi tells governors

    Save in spite of economic recession —Peter Obi tells governors

    FORMER governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has enjoined states in Nigeria to imbibe the culture of savings regardless of the prevailing economic condition. Obi made the remark at the National Roundtable on Inflation, held at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja in honour of the retiring Director General of the Debt Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo. In his opening remark, Obi who poured encomiums on Dr.Nwankwo for his quality service to the country during his years as the DMO boss, appealed to other Nigerians to emulate his consistency and passion for things to be done in a manner that will be of benefit to the country.

    Obi who said he neither owed nor borrowed but rather saved money as the governor of Anambra State, said, he was prompted to do so because throughout his tenure, what was uppermost in his mind was the future of the children of the state. He described borrowing as mortgaging the future, saying: “If at the national level, the country had saved, we would not be experiencing the current recession.”

    Though, he said he was not entirely against borrowing, but, he insisted that before individuals or nations should borrow, it must be for projects that would, beyond doubt, pay itself back. On the way out, he said it was not too late to start saving and called on those that are privileged to see themselves in the positions of authority to realise that a better future would not be built if they do not imbibe the culture of savings through cutting costs and prudent management of available resources. The event which also witnessed the unveiling of the book “Inflation and the Structure of Aggregate Output”, written by Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, was attended by the Acting President represented by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, many retired and serving ministers, financial experts, National Assembly members, among others.

  • ‘How Peter Obi was forced out of APGA’

    ‘How Peter Obi was forced out of APGA’

    Barrister Joe Martins Uzodike is no doubt an old politician. His radicalism came early in life when in 1978, it was he who moved the motion for “Ali must Go” demonstration by Nigerian students. He was Special Adviser to Chief Jim Nwobodo in the First Republic, a former governorship candidate in Anambra as well as a former Commissioner for Information in the state, besides being a successful legal practitioner. He served as the Director General in the Obiano Campaign Organisation. In this interview with selected journalists, he speaks about developments in Anambra State, especially on issues raised by the former APGA Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, and and other related matters.PAUL UKPABIO was there,

    POLITICS is simply a game where the entire citizens decide which part they will play to make it worthwhile. While some prefer to be spectators, others opt to play in different wings or even keep the goal post. Those that decide to play are the active participants. The part they play is vital, because the joy of the entire team-players and spectators alike-depends on the performance of the players. In effect, we all play politics, but those actively involved play vital roles, because by deciding who gets what, they have the capacity to change the destinies of nations and states. What part are you playing? I have been an active player in the politics of Anambra State for some time now, as you can attest to from my background.

    As an active participant in Anambra politics, could you share with us its fine points? Since its creation in 1991, Anambra State was unfortunate for many years because we did not have the benefit of a governor that understood sustainable development. That was the main reason I contested to be governor in 2003. But, frankly speaking, the fortunes of the state started to change for the better under Sen.

    Chris Ngige, especially in road-infrastructure. Sadly, the good fortunes were dampened by the immense damage the state experienced during his tenure. When Peter Obi took over, it was like God had decided to wipe away the tears of the people of the state. For the first time, the state had as a true leader; one who understands the dynamism of management and applied himself becomingly to the challenge. As Peter Obi’s commissioner, what were those things he did that you consider exceptional? Most of the things he did were exceptional. Do we talk about the return of schools to the church which he backed up with a grant of over N6billion to them to put those schools in order? He started an unusual partnership between the church and the state and today, key hospitals owned by the churches are in wonderful states.

    He bought vehicles from a local manufacturer, INNOSON, and distributed to all the schools in the state, to towns for vigilante services, and to traditional rulers. He bought over 30,000 computers, generators, provided INTERNET connectivity, sick bays and money for the improvement of sports to all the schools in the state. He simply did wonders in all the areas of development. How do we juxtapose what you are saying with what Chief Victor Umeh said about him? I am not here to discuss Chief Victor Umeh.

    When a man has chosen not to commend the good in others but to denigrate them because of envy and jealousy, that is his burden to carry. I do not think it is wise to do so, considering that your principal, Mr. Peter Obi, was the leitmotif in his three-part interview. Take for example, he said Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu once threatened to slap Obi when he was still the governor Chief Victor Umeh was the man who benefitted the most from Obi; whatever things he said about Obi are unfortunate and the conclusive proof of himself as an ingrate. To let you imagine what Mr. Peter Obi did for him, let me reveal here that it was Obi who procured the first international passport for him and took him overseas. When he met Obi, he was living in a two-room apartment in New Heaven, Enugu. Today, he owns houses all over the world. As for his claim that Ojukwu threatened to slap Obi, it is a capital lie.

    Have you not discovered that each time Obi comes to limelight, Umeh and his group will go haywire, talking nonsense and influencing people to talk nonsense about him? His interview came after Obi’s successful second platform appearance. So, envy can push people to act irrationally. Okay, he said the attempted slap was because Obi did not conduct Local Government election, which was simply because of many court cases at that time. Today, Gov. Willie Obiano is yet to conduct the same election; rather than speak out, Chief Umeh is supporting him. Who is fooling who? Chief Umeh said Ojukwu was moved to say that because there was nothing on ground in Obi’s first tenure to guarantee a second term for him. It is wrong, very wrong to say that. Obi took over government without any money in the treasury unlike his successor who inherited over N100 billion (including set aside funds) to start with.

    If you recall, at the time he was impeached, he had already saved billions for the state. From day one, Obi started working and I can recount some of his achievements in his first tenure to prove that Chief Umeh was prompted by envy and not objective reality. Immediately Obi took over, he completed the roads started by Dr. Chris Ngige, some of which are: Nanka-Oko bypass; Otuocha-Aguleri-Awkuzu-Ideani road (Ngige stopped before Aguleri junction); Owerri Ezukala-Umuchu-Amesi- Uga-Igboukwu (Ngige stopped at Umuchu) road; Iseeke-Awka-Etiti road – a total of about 13 roads inherited from Ngige.

    Thereafter, Obi started new roads. In his first tenure, he had already completed 475 Kilometers of road, which at that time had already made Anambra the state with the highest network of roads. Some of these roads are: dualization of Zik’s Avenue, Awka; Awka Inner Ring roads; all the roads within Onitsha GRA; Awka road; Nkwelle-Ezunaka road; Aguluzigbo-Igboukwu road; Adazi-Obeledu-Oraeri-Igboukwu road; Agulu lake by pass; Awka-Nibo-Nise-Enugukwu bypass; Omor-Junction-Igbakwu-Ifite-Ogwari road, and many others. These roads cut across all the zones. It was actually in his first tenure that Obi completed Odor, Ogbunabo, Otupu (Umeze Anam/Mmiata, Otaro (Aguluezechukwu), Aghomili bridges.

    The list is endless. Because of his achievements in all sectors, the government of Mr. Peter Obi started project inspection tour of the state in 2009, whereby many segments of the society like traditional rulers, students, traders, stakeholders, Anambra people living in the USA came to see the projects Obi executed. How true is the claim by Umeh that he helped Obi to regain his mandate in court? In order to justify what he does, he is claiming what I think only exists in his imagination.

    He even listed bearing witness in the Tribunal during governorship petition as part of what he did for Obi. I was reliably informed that, as he always demanded, he was paid handsomely for all the court appearances as a witness. On the claim by Umeh that he made a lot of sacrifices for Obi to return from impeachment, I can tell you that the contrary was the case; he did all he could for Obi not to come back. Soon after the impeachment, so many groups visited him to find out what next, he told them that Obi was not worth fighting for and that he was gone for good. Another important issue Chief Victor Umeh raised was the idea of tenure interpretation, which he said was first discovered in the constitution by him. It is good he said something of that nature to enable readers see him for what he is. The idea of tenure interpretation first came from Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

    Thereafter, the legal team discussed it and agreed. Surprisingly, Chief Femi Falana (SAN) made pronouncement on the same subject, prompting a public debate on it. Contrary to the news that Obi was asked to leave APGA, Chief Umeh also said that Obi left APGA on his own, how true is it? Towards the end of Obi’s tenure, Chief Umeh announced that due to his great sacrifice for the party as nobody had done, that Obi would be made the Chairman of BOT and also the leader of the party. Nobody knew he was only scheming. Obi, not given to reckless spending of money refused. I think they sold the same BOT chairmanship and party leadership to Obiano who liked it.

    Now, the problem was how to get Obi out of the way. Sensing danger, Obi resigned, but they wanted him out completely and rather than face the issues, they went to three bishops to help resolve the issue; they requested that Obi should leave APGA for them to rebuild it. This happened on the 24th of August 2014. As soon as he left the party, following their demand, money was released to them for their so-called convention wherein Obiano was handed over everything about APGA by Chief Victor Umeh. Now, when it appeared to them that APGA died by that singular act, they are turning around to lie. Having been an active force in the government of Anambra State, would you compare the government of Peter Obi and that of Obiano? This interview is not about Obiano.

    I have followed some people’s comments about him recently, including that of Victor Umeh, all intelligent people can decipher is that as election is approaching, people like Umeh are scheming how to be relevant. All I can tell him is to beware of such people. Some who are not getting are skillfully commending him or pretending to be on the verge of joining the opposition for obvious reasons. Obiano must note that as Obi got his second tenure, he can only get his on the strength of his work. Anybody telling him the truth should tell him that he has failed in terms of governance, in terms of projects executed. He must give the people of Anambra State his report card based on how he has grown the savings left for him, how he has completed inherited projects and the ones he commenced and completed as promised. He will tell Anambra people their debt profile and how the debts came about and what the money was used for. These are the things that should worry him and not the praises of people like Umeh. Finally, what can you say about Anambra State? It will sound pathetic, but the truth is that the foundation laid by Obi is crumbling. Like Umeh said, all of us owe it as a duty to put our experiences in writing for posterity but not trying to dissimulate history as we have seen from his interviews.

  • I still want to become president – Donald Duke

    I still want to become president – Donald Duke

    A former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, on Tuesday said he would still take a shot at the presidency, if the opportunity presented itself.

    Duke spoke at a programme, “The Nigerian Symposium for Emerging Leaders’’, held in Lagos.

    He said though he once aspired to the position but did not emerge the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he would still contest for the highest office in the country at the appropriate time.

    Duke explained that it was because of his preference for the presidential seat that he did not vie for any federal legislative seat after serving out his terms as governor.

    “I do not have the flair for the legislature; standing up and sitting down at the chambers to raise a point. That was why I did not contest for the Senate but the presidency, after serving out my term as governor.

    “I have contested the presidency before; I will still give it a shot when the opportunity presents itself . I believe I still have the energy in me,“he said.

    The former governor canvassed the reform of the country’s political system to accommodate wider participation and good governance.

    He suggested the review of the electoral law to allow for independent candidacy.

    Duke said the country’s democracy would fare better if young people, who form the larger proportion of the population ,took more active part in its political process.

    He said most developed countries had young people as their leaders at one point or the other in their democratic history.

    The former governor, however, said power was never given easily, urging young people to participate in the political process and use their prime to add value to the country.

    “I want to urge young people in the country not to see leadership as if it belongs to some people, but do everything positive to be part of it.

    “You can only make a difference at the prime of your life. You can actually add value now, not when you are above 50.

    “So, you need to be part of the political process and play your part. It is your right to be there; nobody is doing you a favour.

    “You represent more than 60 per cent of the population;  you don’t have to beg for it.

    “Just make effort to make that change and contribute your quota to nation building,’’ he said.

    Duke urged government at all levels to be accountable and challenged the governed to demand more from their leaders.

    Also speaking, former Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State decried lack of transparency and accountability in government.

    He said the situation was responsible for the level of corruption in the country and poor delivery of dividends of democracy.

    Obi said the way out of the quagmire was for leaders to carry the governed along in budgetary spending and plans for effective tracking.

    “The way forward is that governments should make their budgets more explicit and published. The plans and the money to be spent on them should be clearly stated.

    “That is when people can track and make comparative analysis with previous budgets and then we can achieve some transparency,’’ he said.

    The former governor also urged the masses to show more interest in the budget so as to keep leaders on their toes.

    Mr Seun Onigbinde, Chief Executive Officer, Budgit, an organisation with interest in accountability in public finance, urged Nigerians to demand accountability from their governments.

    He also urged governments at all levels to always carry the people along in their budgetary proposals and implementation to achieve accountability.