His words: “The clarion call in Nigeria today is one for
restructuring and a reassessment of the terms of our union as a nation.
“No matter how economically viable a nation is, bad
governance and a wrong system of administration can bring it down as there is a
direct correlation between economic and political reforms.
“Our historical experience at constitution making and
political reform show that we may have some structural defects that require
adjustment so as not to continue to constrain the deepening, widening and
consolidation of democratic values and practices.
“Indeed, some of the contradictions and challenges
bequeathed by the colonial administration have continued to pose problems for
us to this day.
“As things stand therefore, our constitution making efforts
must go down the grassroots to deal with the issues of inclusion, popular
participation, ownership, and legitimacy.”
Challenges
The former President, who spoke through a live video link at
the occasion, lamented that: “Nigeria, in one word, has moved from bad
governance to another.
“In the process, we
tried to adjust to the weaknesses of the system and equally adapted to doing
without some of those fundamentals that really ought to drive the political
process.
“Some issues that have emerged include, but are not limited
to, the challenge of constitutionalism and constitutional reform; the
opportunity to bring all stakeholders together to discuss the preferred
political path for the nation; the challenge of building new, accountable,
responsive and focused leadership; and how to build, operate and sustain real
political liberties, social justice, rights and obligations; electoral reforms
that ensure credibility and respectability of elections; relations between
tiers of government; performance of government and how to ensure truly
democratic governance for all.
“In all of these, the central challenge is still how to
strengthen the social contract between the custodians of state power and the
governed.”
While he stressed the need for unity, cohesion and equity,
the former President all hands must be on deck to move Nigeria forward.
Obasanjo said: “What we want in Nigeria today is unity,
cohesion, equity, togetherness and collective commitment to our progress and to
the Nigeria project.
“We want to move forward, look forward, think about the past
to help the present and the future and work for a stronger and more united
Nigeria.
“It is unhelpful to devote time and energy to unrealistic,
even unpatriotic strategies for precipitating crises, conflicts, deadlock and
disintegration. In a democracy, there must be checks and balances and there
must be effective watchdogs.”
Commenting on the book, Obasanjo said: “This book is of
great interest to me as a person because it is a direct fallout from the
National Political Reform Conference which my administration organised in 2005.
“And to us as a nation, because the content of the book is a
most needed panacea for many of the ills plaguing our nation today.”
Dignitaries present at the book launch included former
presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi; former President
of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani; former Governor of Imo State,
Ikedi Ohakim.
Also present were Senator Victor Umeh; former Chief of Naval
Staff, Admiral Allison Madueke (retd); former Minister of Information, Frank
Nweke and former Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Chinedu Nebo among others.
