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]At the second edition of THISNIGERIA’s Annual Lecture & Gold Prize Award, themed “25 Years of Nigeria’s Unbroken Democracy – Prospects & Possibilities,” the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, engaged in a heated exchange with Shehu Sani and lawyer Mike Ozekhome, calling them “activist-turned-politicians.”
During the event, Minister Wike took issue with Sani and Ozekhome’s critical comments about Nigeria’s democracy and progress over the past 25 years. He argued that while the country faces challenges, it is essential to acknowledge the progress made, such as the fact that Nigerians are no longer being detained or locked up in other states under the current democratic system.
The minister also used the platform to defend President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to address the country’s problems, citing the “Hope Agenda” as evidence of the President’s commitment to restoring hope to Nigerians. Wike emphasized that the country’s economic and social issues cannot be resolved overnight, given the state of the nation when the President took office.
Turning his attention to Shehu Sani, Minister Wike questioned the former senator’s performance during his time in the Senate. He also criticized Ozekhome ‘s role as an activist, asking how many times he had rejected briefs from those who allegedly rigged elections and instead chose to defend them.
TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, CON, PhD, was one of the speakers at the event, along with Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, Mni; Senator Shehu Sani, and Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi. While delivering an insightful speech that questioned the depth of Nigeria’s democratic progress, the prominent lawyer and human rights activist, Mike Ozekhome, asserted that while Nigeria has enjoyed civilian rule for 25 years, the country may not be experiencing true democracy.
“We are running a civilian government, but I’m not too sure it is a democratic government in the true sense of the word, where people elect or select their leaders and the votes are counted and allowed to count,” he said. The senior advocate emphasized that genuine democracy exists only when votes are counted and allowed to determine the outcome of elections. He argued that the will of the people should be the driving force behind governance, with elected officials serving as representatives of the people’s interests. Ozekhome also called for a new constitution and electoral reforms to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy.
He stressed the need for a constitution that emerges through a people-driven process, ensuring legitimacy and credibility. Additionally, he advocated for the establishment of an electoral court to punish electoral offenses and deter malpractices. Highlighting the importance of youth participation in the democratic process, Ozekhome noted that Nigeria has the largest youth population in the world, with 70% under the age of 30 and 42% under 15.
He urged the government to harness this demographic advantage by providing opportunities and engaging the youth in nation-building. In a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu, Ozekhome emphasized the urgent need to address the suffering and anger among Nigerians. “Mr. President sir, Nigerians are suffering.
There’s mass poverty, degradation, and anger in the land. Don’t let your minders tell you otherwise,” he said, urging the president to empathize with the people and take decisive action to alleviate their hardships. Ozekhome called for a reduction in government waste, the blocking of leakages, and the empowerment of women and youth. He also stressed the importance of leaders leading by example and showing empathy towards the people they govern.
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