Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill Akpabio has blamed the 35 years of military rule in the country as responsible for the underdevelopment in Nigeria.
Akpabio, stated this while answering questions from Government House correspondents in Uyo, : “My impression of Nigeria is chequered history in the sense that if we had democracy all along without military intervention in the country, we would have been better.
“We have achieved a lot in the last 14 years than we did in 35 years of military rule. That is my opinion and now we have opportunity to build. We should look forward to the next 50 to 100 years”.
Akpabio said Nigerians should see their multi-ethnicity as a reason to unite.
“We should learn from Egypt and the Nile River. People from all over the world came together and lived there because the land was fertile and the first civilisation in the world was born from there.
“So, Nigeria in spite of our large size and differences (since we are together), we have come together, we can make it work”.
“We should look forward to the next 50 to 100 years – what would happen to Nigeria, we should start today. If we look backward, we will have regrets.
“We must go back to the basis; we must love one another, and every Nigerian must feel free in any part of this nation.
“We must de-emphasise tribe and religion, emphasise our ‘Nigerianness’ and give everybody equal opportunity.
“We should promote our ‘Nigerianness’ and give everybody equal opportunity from 2014.”
“We should celebrate Nigeria for being together for 100 years and not necessarily where the structures of amalgamation are located. I don’t want us to reduce the issue to where it was signed.
“If you look at it very well, there are people who even argued that Lord Lugard made a mistake by calling us Nigeria.
“People also insist that why must he bring us together, why didn’t he allow us to be two countries. The important thing is that we should celebrate the fact that 100 years after we are still together’’.
Akpabio explained: “I have seen that we have Amalgamation House in Akwa Ibom State, which was built by Lord Lugard. And I understand he was living there.
“It is clearly written there- the Amalgamation House built in 1914. Well, I wasn’t there in 1914 so I wouldn’t know if Amalgamation agreement was actually signed there.
“I think historians have to do a lot of work. I don’t know whether it was signed in Lokoja or whether it was signed in Ikot Abasi.
“At least, we have the Amalgamation House; it is evident that that was where Lord Lugard decided to build his Amalgamation House.
“I will invite the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation to visit the Amalgamation House and try to include it so that we can have a complete history”.
Leave a Reply