The former Vice-chancellor of the prestigious Ahmad Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Ango Abdullahi has attributed the failure of Nigeria as a state due to collective poor leadership by Nigerian leaders at all levels.
He stated this at the presentation and launching of a book “COURT AND POLITICS” authored by Dr. Umar Ardo at Shehu Musa Yar’dua Centre in Abuja on Saturday.
Prof. Ango Abdullahi who is the Chairman of the book presentation said, Nigerians leaders have persistently failed in their responsibilities from independence to date except the founding fathers such as the Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tabawa Balewa, Nmandi Azikiwe and Awolowo who served this country honestly and justly.
He said, the leaders that follow them have consistently displayed high level of incompetency which resulted to failure in all aspects. Noting that, 64 years from Independence to date Nigerian leaders have failed to solve a single problem in this country.
Citing an example with the Saudi Arabian Mosque (Haram), which uses 18,000mw of electricity daily but Nigeria with over 200 million population generates only 4,000mw of electricity which can be used by a single house in that country.
“64 years after Nigerian’s Independence we cannot boost of electricity. Something is wrong somewhere. We cannot provide light for the country while the Saudi Mosque, the Haram uses 18,000 mw of electricity daily and Nigeria cannot produce more than 4,000 mw of electricity”.
“Enough of our failure; something else must give way to our failure. We have failed this country enough and this must stopped. We must go back to the drawing board so that this country can make progress”. He emphases
Prof. Abdullahi commended the effort of the writer of the book, Dr. Umar Ardo for doing a good job and advised him to write another book about the Nigerian leaderships which are key to the persistent failure of this country.
On his part the book presenter, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, CON said what the book is yearning from the Nigerians judges is that, they are expected to do more in terms of quality judgment. “they are doing well but it’s not enough. Nigerians are looking up to them to do more quality judgments. When we criticise, we want you do more because we are yet satisfied with what you do”.
He advised young Nigerians who want to join politics. “You joined politics for two reasons: for name or for quick money. Let me start by the later for quick money, whenever you go to bed you expect EFCC to knock on your door; you will never sleep with your two eyes closed. And it’s doubtful if you will enjoy that wealth but if, you joined politics to make name and legacy. Then you go into politics to work for the people like our founding fathers. That’s why they are been remembered till today”. He said.
In his remarks, the book reviewer Prof. C . J . Dakas, SAN said the book “COURT AND POLITICS” contained 556 pages, published in the United States of America. Noting that, the book is timely published especially against the backdrop of the outreach generated by the inexplicable in some cases reprehensible decisions delivered by some judges in the context of 2023 general election in Nigeria as exemplified by what he called the Plateau conundrum.
He said, on the same basic fact and applicable law the 16 of the Plateau House of Assembly members out of the 24 and the members of the National Assembly from the state elected on the platform of PDP were nullified by Court of Appeal which is the last resort in respect of legislative elections petition.
Noting that, while the election of the governor of the state also elected on the platform of PDP was upheld by the Supreme Court which is the court of the last resort in respect of Presidential election petition.
He said, in an equally preserved and flabbergastic term the same panel of justices of Court of Appeal after nullifying the election of same members of the House of Assembly ordered that their certificate of return be withdrawn and given to candidates of the next party with the highest votes while in the other constituencies in the same state on the same basic fact, the court ordered for bye election.
Prof. C.J said, this is the picture the book portrays in the context of Court judgments in the Nigerian politics.
The book writer Dr. Umar Ardo expressed profound gratitude to all those that have attended the launching especially the two Presidents who were ably represented Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Olusegun Obasanjo and many other important dignitaries too numerous to mention here.
