Equal Rights, Best Guarantee for Political Stability – Obiozor

By Amauche Okolo, Enugu

ENUGU (Sundiata Post) – Nigeria’s former Ambassador to United States, Dr. George Obiozor, has said that what is needed in Nigeria is political goodwill and decisive action that guarantee equal rights to all citizens regardless of ethnic origin, political affiliation or religion.‬‪

Obiozor stated this on Thursday while delivering a paper as guest speaker at the ‘Big Ideas Podium’ of the African Heritage Institute, Enugu.‬‪

He reminded Nigerian leaders that it is only dynamic, pragmatic, courageous and purposeful leadership with integrity and genuine patriotism that would move the nation forward.
He said, “it is clear that unless the leaders learn the lesson of history and act soon the call for restructuring will be followed by a call for a national referendum”.

At the‎ podium, moderated by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo,
Obiozor said: “Indeed, the referendum option is already here with us and looms high at the national and international agenda to settle the Nigerian national questions and ensure stability and peaceful co-existence.‬‪ And those who think they can stop it must take a second look at the present international system. All over the world people are rejecting unity without justice and peace without justice.‬‪

“I know for instance that majority of Igbo prefer a united Nigeria but not unity of slaves and masters and also want peace ‎ but not peace of the grave yard.
“Therefore, Nigeria’s future is in jeopardy, but the problems are not insurmountable.

“We must reform, restructure or perish the idea of one Nigeria surviving the present impending critical challenges.”

On his part, Soludo said idea of the discussion was to generate ideas that would help transform Nigeria.‬‪ He said: “Nigeria is one of the most fragile countries in the world today and had never been as divided as it is now.

‬‪”Nigeria is a project, it’s a work in progress. Africa is also a project and only big ideas work.

‬‪”It’s through ideas that any nation, any continent has been built; any economy has been built, any political structure has been built and transformed.‬‪

“Nigeria is at a cross road. We’ve been ranked one of the most fragile states in the world and‎ there are nationalities questions. Nigeria as of today has never been divided than anytime in our history and so the search for the big ideas is to help in the transformation process that will really get Nigeria moving from point A to point B and to leapfrog the process of development and to be able to claim it’s right in the community of nations and fulfill it’s manifest destiny.‬‪

“It’s only big and transformative  ideas that can do so. And so in this Big Ideas podium of the African Heritage Institute, we are looking for the way out of ordinary ideas, the missing links and the new thing that we need to put in place.‎”‬‪ Other speakers who spoke in similar way included‎ Director of Joint Universities Preliminary Examination Board at tbe University of Nigeria, Nsukka  (UNN), Aoysius Okolie and
Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi, among others.

However the participants demanded for the involvement of south east governors in such a forum to ensure its success.