John Campbell, a former US Ambassador to Nigeria, says Nigerians have lost trust and confidence within the government.
He berated the attitude of the govt and Nigerian politicians, saying the people haven’t been at the centre of governance within the country.
The US envoy says he doesn’t think the Nigerian military are often transparent and accountable.
“The lack of confidence and faith amongst many Nigerians within the institutions of state is extremely worrisome,” he said.
Campbell said Nigerian political leaders have had an extended history of not being accountable to the people. This, consistent with him, reflects on how the country’s big allow defence has not yielded much success.
“This culture feeds directly into corruption and institutional weakness,” the previous ambassador said.
Campbell stressed the necessity for restructuring in Nigeria in order that the institutions are accountable to citizens.
“There is not any formula to restructuring, all that’s needed is for the people to take a seat , think, search for what is going to work for everybody and make a technique ,” he said.
In her remarks, Aisha Yesufu, rights activist and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, noted that the first function of the govt was to secure the lives and property of citizens but added that the govt had did not do this .
She said Nigerians allowed the govt to urge away with the abdication of their duties.
She said, “The Nigerian government has not only failed the Nigerian people, but they need also failed themselves. You see the impunity, disregard and disdain for Nigerians. they will escape with it because we are a nation of individuals who are able to allow them to abdicate their responsibilities.”
Ossai Ojigho, Country Director, Amnesty International in Nigeria, said equity, fairness and justice make it tons easier to navigate the cumbersome nature of the classifications.
“The government says we are one, but they are doing not address the divisions and therefore the dissatisfaction that the people harbour towards themselves. They deliberately set the narrative of difference to push a particular agenda,” she added.
Dr Kole Shettima, a public scientist, stressed the necessity for continuous activism to strengthen institutions across the board.
“We have significant structural problems and constitutional problems. we’d like to challenge the constitution. i think that we’ve to challenge it in several ways and manners to guard the small spaces that we’ve .
“Part of the strategy is to empower individuals and even some state governments to challenge powers at the centre.
“If many of our state governors become president of Nigeria, we are likely to be within the worst situation than we’ve found ourselves due to the way they need been behaving and trampling on the rights of individuals ,” he said.
