NAN-H-69
Law
By Angela Atabo
Abuja , June 29, 2017 (NAN) The Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER ), an NGO, says the solution to Nigeria’s economic challenges lies in veneration of the law and not in dividing the country.
To venerate a law means members governed by that law must act with dignity and integrity; and be submissive to the law and other members without question or misgivings.
Mr Frank Tietie, CASER’s Executive Director, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that it was wrong to assume that the solution to Nigeria’s challenges laid in secession.
Tietie said the call for division was borne out of frustrations of certain groups that had sectional interests and an illusion that their needs would be met when they were separated from Nigeria.
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“The solution to dissatisfaction on the path of the citizenry is not in forming smaller groups but, in good governance and transparency.
“The solution is in equity in terms of the sharing of resources.
“The solution is in having a people that have the understanding that there is one standard that is common to every person irrespective of tribe, ethnic origin; and social placement.
“There is one standard and that standard is law, that is; everybody is equal before the law with a committed executive that is meant to serve the people; a judiciary that is independent and impartial and a legislature that takes its time to do research to carry out scientific law making for the purpose of improving the living conditions of the people.
“Then we are on the path to progress.
“It cannot be achieved in one day but we must make up our minds that the quality of governance that we want is that which is founded on the principle of law.’’
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Tietie said Nigerians were not actually pursuing nation building as a goal; as a people; resulting in a very faulty foundation of a country that did not consider peculiarities of each region.
He said that not reaping the fruits of good governance was what led to the divisive speeches by people of the South East and the Northern Nigerian youths.
According to him, people do not feel government’s impact in terms of welfare and sense of security which can also result in lack of confidence and disenchantment especially on the part of the ordinary Nigerian.
He said the clamour for the secession was a mirage because the same problems would still be replicated once their yearnings had been met.
“Take for example Delta State, with its many ethnic groups. We have had history of violence between the Ijaws and Itsekiris; and between the Itsekiris and the Uhrobos.
“So the solution to dissatisfaction on the path of citizenry is not in forming smaller groups that will carry out and fulfil what they term as the right to self-determination.’’
Tietie, however, urged Nigerian leaders not disregard the standards that had been set by law because the flagrant disregard for the laws governing the nation as well as shoving aside the provisions of the constitution, was responsible for the current feeling of uncertainty and mistrust by citizens.
Tietie said the way forward was to tow the line of the U.S., which Nigeria copied its federalism from because its success is largely attributed to its venerating the principles of the rule of law.
He said once Nigeria succeeds in venerating its laws, every citizen would become equal before the law irrespective of status or power; and the constitution would be supreme to every other law. (NAN)
ATAB/DOR/YEE
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Edited by Nyisom Dore/Emmanuel Yashim