A former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday in Abuja provoked a fresh controversy over the plight of inmates in correctional facilities in Nigeria saying the Nigerian state prioritises the welfare of dogs over 80,000 prisoners.
He said the prison was not meant to kill people but to correct wrong doers, but regretted that powerful forces get away with threats of dealing with prisoners with the connivance of some corrupt security operatives.
Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, expressed his views during a public lecture in solidarity support and honour of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with the theme, ‘Nigeria Yesterday, Today and a Prosperous Future.’
The lecture was convened by a United States-based Nigerian Professor of Medicine and Executive Director of Public Advocacy and Research Council Inc. (PPARC) Emeka Umerah.
Oshiomhole said, “We even take care of dogs better than Nigerian prisoners. The bad news is that out of the 80,000 prisoners, 50 per cent are awaiting trials.
“In our laws, you are presumed innocent until found guilty. Oppression is the name of the game. A person will tell you that I will teach you a lesson, and with the connection of the DPO, he can teach you more lessons that you can ever imagined.”
He also frowned at the labeling of Nigeria and its currency as weak by foreign countries, stating that Nigeria should define its path and should not allow foreign profiling to destroy the image of the country.
“In Nigeria, our people will go to the World Bank and they will tell us who we are. We are supposed to define who we are and not foreigners. And until we go back to this home-grown policy and damn the consequences of the world, because they are going to fight us, we will have problems. For us to secure the future, we must interrogate the immediate pass”, he said.
The guest lecturer and Convener, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Prof Sam Amadi, said Nigeria should not despair in the face of challenges, adding that the country can benefit from its existential problems.
According to him, the Nigerian leadership should fastrack economic development through diversification and implementation of direct state principles.
He said, “The social contract we are proposing requires elected officials to fast tract economic development through diversification. Apart from being the biggest economy in the country, we were first but we are fourth after South Africa, Egypt and Algeria.
“We should be the fastest developing economy with tremendous untapped human resources. A nation is always a work in progress but how we do that work determines what the nation turns out to be. We must admit that we have not been doing a good job since 1960.
“We got some terrible results but we should not argue with the results. We must maximize opportunities. The good news is that Nigeria still has the resources to succeed, Nigeria can still succeed.
“Every crisis can be turned into an opportunity and invention but all depends on the honesty, patriotism, courage and intelligence of the ruling elites. It is left for us as leaders to make Nigeria great. It is possible and doable.”
Umerah lauded the achievements of President Bola Tinubu, for his visionary leadership.
He said, “In the spirit of boldness, courage and determination, I must commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a true visionary for his maverick style of leadership over the past year.
“Leading Nigeria requires navigating complex challenges and making decisions that may not yield immediate results, or compliments.
“Forgoing political expediency, President Tinubu has shown remarkable courage in confronting these challenges, steering our nation towards a brighter future. Reflecting on his first year in office, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the strides we’ve made.
“It’s akin to witnessing the biblical walls of Jericho crumble…President Tinubu’s tenure exemplifies the Jerichoan feat of overcoming obstacles that once seemed insurmountable. As we celebrate these achievements, let us not forget that our work is far from over.
“We must continue to embolden the bold, to encourage the courageous, and to unite in our efforts to build a nation where every citizen has a fair chance at success, and where prosperity reaches every corner of our land.
“So, my fellow Nigerians, let us rise to this challenge together. Let us shun division, but rather harness the spirit of unity and determination that defines us as a people.
“Together, we have the power to shape our destiny…. to tear down walls of division and despair,…and to build bridges of hope and prosperity. Let us build bridges that connect us to a future of shared prosperity and opportunity.
“Let us encourage the courageous, embolden the bold, and together, let us forge ahead towards a Nigeria we can all be proud of.”
Friday Olokor
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