UGHELLI—A Warri-based lawyer, Dr Akpor Mudiaga-Odje, has called on Nigerians to urgently re-invent the spirit of patriotism, to enable the country move out of its current state of economic and social woes.

Odje, who made the call at a lecture for staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in Delta State. traced the interest of the British and existence of Nigeria to 1789.

According to him, “for 50 years since 1960, Nigeria has failed to enthrone visionary leadership except for the era of Gen. Murtala Muhammed and Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, who positively established credible and visionary leadership in the country.”

Urging the nation to focus on the next 50 years for its development, he called for the  reform of the electoral process to usher in credible elections in the country as the first step towards the much anticipated recovery programme.

“It is sad to recall that the people of the Niger Delta began with 50% derivation under the 1960 and 1963 Constitution, but have only 13% less excess Crude Oil Account and the continental shelf 50 years later. I challenge the government to enact a law to legalize the 10% equity granted to the oil producing communities by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.”

He also charged churches across the country to speak out against bad leadership and critically assess government policies as well as advising its members who are in government.

Odje made the call while delivering a lecture at St. Andrews Anglican Church, Warri, Diocese and challenged churches to join in the struggle towards ushering credible elections into the country.

He admonished the worshippers on the provisions of the electoral Act 2010, which directs all citizens above 18 years to register for the elections under Section 9 of the Act.

According to him, “the law under Section 12 (3) forbids double registration and it is punishable with imprisonment of one year or a fine of N100, 000.00 and or both.”