Nigeria needs revolution, not reform-Prof Awopetu

BY DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE- An academic, Professor Idowu Awopetu,Thursday said what Nigeria needed was a revolution and not a reform to solve the myriad of crises confronting the country since its creation in 1914.

Awopetu, Professor of Geology at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, after analysing the social, economic, and the political crises bedeviling the country, submitted that only a revolution was required to make the country a truly unified nation.

He spoke at a symposium organised by the Ondo State government as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 51st independence titled “Nigeria at 51: Prospects and challenges of nation building.”

Awopetu argued that the current economic reforms by the federal government would worsen the situation because they were brought about by foreign powers for their interests at the detriment of Nigeria.

He said: “We cannot reform the current Nigerian state. The country is an over patched cloth. We are spending N542bn to service our loans. We have the worst case of unemployment and a near collapse of the institutions. How do we reform such a country?” he asked.

Also speaking, a lecturer at the Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State, Dr. Samuel Igbatayo, described the plight of Nigerians despite the nation’s wealth as a paradox.

Igbatayo a political scientist, said “The endemic poverty in the land is a great challenge and the high rate of unemployment is a time-bomb ready to explode as the current spate of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes could spur a violent revolution that would threaten the country’s unity”.

“I don’t think that the situation, however bad, is irredeemable. We should practice true federalism and reduce the powers of the federal government. We should also fund all institutions that promote good governance and make them independent.”