The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland and National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Chief Gani Adams, has reiterated the need for true federalism in Nigeria as a critical pathway to national development.
Speaking on Thursday during the 25th edition of the OPC June 12 Lecture held in Lagos, Adams, who also leads the Oodua Progressive Union Worldwide, declared that restructuring remains the only viable route for Nigeria to reach its full potential among the comity of nations.
Highlighting the historical significance of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Adams described it as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s political evolution.
However, he lamented that more than three decades later, the country had yet to attain meaningful progress, primarily due to the absence of true federalism.
“To transform a country, the shape of the polity must change periodically,” he said.
Adams continued, “We are all gathered here today not only to honour the memory of Aare Abiola and others who died between 1993 and 1998, but to also tell ourselves some bitter truth.
“Nigeria is going through various crises today because some leaders are stubbornly against restructuring.
“In honour of Abiola and other martyrs, I want to say it pointedly that whether anybody likes it or not, this country will be restructured.
“And the earlier this is done, the better for all of us because there is no way we can guarantee peace and security if this country is not restructured.
“If this country is restructured in a way that every locality controls the instrumentality of security, backed by intelligence, the wanton killings of Nigerians will stop automatically.”
He emphasized that the commemoration of June 12 should inspire urgent national reforms, particularly in the political, economic, electoral, and judicial spheres.
“We must wage intelligent war against kidnapping in cities, towns and villages and the time for that fight is now through restructuring,” Adams added, while expressing concern over escalating insecurity, deepening poverty, and a compromised judiciary.
He stressed that the only way to truly honour the memory of MKO Abiola and other heroes of the democratic struggle is by revamping the electoral system.
“Nigeria is destined to be great but if the attitude of leaders to restructuring and development is negative, Nigeria is going nowhere,” Adams declared.
Also speaking at the event was human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, who delivered the keynote address through his representative, Mr. Wale Adeoye.
Falana pointed to the 1999 Constitution as a major impediment to Nigeria’s growth, noting its military origins as incompatible with genuine democratic aspirations.
“June 12 meant a lot of things to a lot of people, but to the majority of Nigerians it was demonstration of courage, resilience and iron-cast determination of the people.
“It means the ability of Nigerians to organise beyond their ethnic division, triumph of good over evil. It means if a system is bad, Nigerians can defeat that system. June 12 means life and death,” he said.
Recalling the sacrifices made by pro-democracy activists who lost their lives during the June 12 struggle, Falana praised Adams for his enduring commitment to the cause.
“The 1999 Constitution drafted by the military could not actualise the aspirations of the Nigerian people in a democracy.
“This is a major setback for Nigeria and there is no way we can talk about stability, progress and development,” Falana added.
He concluded by urging Nigerians to confront the unresolved “national question” in order to build a more secure and prosperous nation.