BY DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA-Former Presidential candidate of the defunct Nigeria Advance Party (NAP)
Dr. Tunji Braithwaite on Tuesday, faulted the planned centenary anniversary of Nigeria’s amalgamation by the presidency in 2014, describing it as a celebration of slavery and bad history.
The Human Rights Activist and lawyer who wondered why despite the myriad of problems confronting the country, coupled with the level of poverty, the Federal government still plans to celebrate the Centenary anniversary of the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, lamented that the deplorable state of infrastructure in the country and the precarious security situation are enough reason to halt the celebration.
Speaking as guest Lecturer at the 2013 Jesus Carnival, 37th Diocesan Anniversary and 170th Year of Christianity in Egbaland in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital ,Dr. Braithwaite said the celebration was a disgrace to the present generation of Nigerians.
He however, suggested that the president should celebrate the ‘’founding-fathers’ birth of Nigerian that over the years had blossomed into a strong, cohesive and socio/political vibrant force in the comity of nations.
‘’Instead of clinking glasses of champagne celebrating and venerating a bad history of enslavement, this generation, should use the occasion of its centenary to finally destroy its last inglorious relics and simultaneously birth a modern and progressive nation.
‘’The Die is cast!. Thee issue is not about 2015 elections or who becomes president or governor in 2015, there are a whole lot of fundamental and foundational matters to be urgently addressed before 2015’’.
“The current generation would themselves surely, hopefully in an orderly but firm manner, resolve this core issue of their own destiny,’’ he said.
He however, warned Jonathan to be wary of the serious implication of insecurity saying, the on-going revolution in Egypt is a classical lesson to Nigerian leaders that any charade and fraudulent elections contrived “will-nilly” is no guarantee of security of tenure of office for any unfit or insensitive government.
“The monster of king corruption and impunity in this country at every level of civil administration has exposed the tenuous and fragile foundation of Nigeria’s brand of democracy to the danger, it portends for the people.
“The reality today of the amalgamation is that both in legal and political context, the amalgamation bond expires in 2014 by effusion of time, unless the people concerned, now voluntarily agree its terms and or modify them.
“The single evil corruption has done to us manifests on cultism, examination malpractices among many others and it now appears as nothing is a taboo in Nigeria anymore. We prayed and worked for democracy but what type of democracy do we have now, do the people’s votes count? Are we getting the benefits of the abundance natural resources God gave us?.
“If you go to government offices, you will see huge generating sets but what about the poor who can’t afford it?, adding “If you know the huge amount this country generates, the question you will ask yourself is why should Nigerians suffer?”, Braithwaite said.