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Being full text of 18th City People Anniversary lecture delivered by former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Tam David-West on Thursday, 27th November 2014 at Planet One Event Centre, Maryland, Lagos
“I am not afraid to speak the truth to my fellow country men. The country has drifted not because of lies but because people are afraid to speak out. Most Nigerians have a price tag on them because of poverty. They shut up their mouth if given some money. I am not afraid. So I will continue to talk till I die, I have been to many prisons all because I am vocal about my country, Nigeria and I will continue to be. The 1st question we should able is Why should we move forward?
Something is wrong, a lot of things wrong with Nigeria but unfortunately we are very unserious about Change. I will give examples of things that are wrong and why they won’t change but together we will proffer a solution of how to change. I am not afraid to say the truth and I take responsibilities for everything I say here and there is nothing I say here that I cannot support. I will be factual and blunt.
Why should Nigeria go forward and survive? We don’t have any other country; we shall stay here and fight it. A man once said think what you can do for your country not what your country can do for you. My country has a responsibility to me and I have a responsibility to my country but someone has said no one can be patriotic on an empty stomach, why should I be patriotic if I don’t have food, no job, my children cannot be taken care of but for every country, patriotism sustains the system. We should be proud to be Nigerians but we should not be proud to accommodate Nigeria’s problems.
I am a believer in God, God is the Almighty either you are Christian or Muslim, but when it comes to controversy, there are 2 great religion Islam and Christianity, Jesus was crucified, Mohammed was controversial. On 27 May 1957, exactly 24 hours before Ojukwu declared the State of Biafra, he took away the non-Igbo speaking area of the Western region to form his own state, that was another political maneuvering by him. Oil started the Civil War and ended it without the confidence of Igbos, I don’t think Ojukwu would have the confidence and courage to declare Biafra but immediately he got the states of the oil producing region of the Niger Delta.
January 7th, 1976, late Head of State, Murtala Mohammed created 33 regions, 19 states. 1987, Babangida increased it to 21, 1991 Babangida got it to 30, October 1996, General Abacha added 6 more states and it became 36 states and none of these states were just created, they were political. In 1985, not many people know that the National Flag was to be changed again with 19 stars like America and I wrote to Gen. Buhari objecting to it, Feb 10, 85 was when I wrote the letter, I told him not to change the national flag, the number of stars on the flag then was the number of the states, I am sure if they had changed it, the number of stars on the flag now will be 36. I was a minister then when I wrote the letter.
Then our National anthem “Nigeria we hail thee” and Arise o compatriots” we must be sure that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain. But their labours are really in vain. 1979 Constitution became a very long project. No unity and peace, it is all false. No unity, no peace, no progress. Nigeria currency has changed colour many times since independence. We are a great nation but as a corporate body, we are not serious. A Senator in Nigeria earns more than the American President, Obama.
Then we need to talk about our constitution. A lot of the politicians are deceiving you with lies. Now look at some of the great names that drafted the 1975 constitution, Alhaji Aminu Kano, Barr. Nwabueze, Chief Bola Ige, Alhaji Abdul Rasaq, Shehu Malami, these are men of timber and caliber. There are few of the men around now.
The other problem we have in Nigeria is that we have no Democracy. How can we have democracy when all the elections are rigged? Let me quote the great Atiku, In 2003, Atiku said “we rigged 2003 election” he admitted to it that the election was rigged. Nigeria has never had free and fair election.
The other problem we have in Nigeria is that we have no Democracy. How can we have democracy when all the elections are rigged? Let me quote the great Atiku, In 2003, Atiku said “we rigged 2003 election” he admitted to it that the election was rigged. Nigeria has never had free and fair election.
Corruption is another thing that is pulling Nigeria backward. Corruption is so bad in Nigeria. Except we fight corruption, we cannot move on. Now we are celebrating 100 years and we said 1914 was a mistake so do you celebrate a mistake? Ladies and gentlemen, this country is sick, very, very sick. I don’t know what virus has affected Nigeria, its more than Ebola. During every independence, they say it should be a time for reflection, we have been reflecting over and over again but still no way forward. They have messed up the country. Nigeria is in a state of lawlessness. We cannot go on like this, our economy is in trouble. Minister of Petroleum said they have created 10 million jobs, I don’t know where the jobs are. Our graduates are roaming all over the place. It is all lies.
May God punish all corrupt politicians. We say we are giants of Africa but which giant? You say you are bigger than South Africa but all your professionals are going there to work. We must have true federalism, what we have is problem federalism and fraudulent democracy. How can you say you have democracy when all your elections are rigged? The problem of Nigeria is more than the problem of America. I rest!”
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