By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Dapo Akinrefon
PASTOR Tunde Bakare,former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai, Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP, chieftain, Professor Pat Utomi and President, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Odumakin and other prominent Nigerians Wednesday, said the forthcoming general election would determine the future of Nigeria.

At a roundtable discussion in Lagos, Wednesday with a theme, “Pulling Nigeria out of the brink” put together by the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, to celebrate the first anniversary of the group, the convener, Bakare, said the roundtable  was aimed at looking critically at the evils befalling the country with a view to proffering solution that would enable her move forward.

In his welcome address, Bakare declared that “Nigeria , at the moment, is at the major cross road,” likening her situation to a woman in labour, who lacked strength to push for save delivery.”

He noted, “it would require hands of experts to perform the caesarean operation to guarantee the lives of both the child and the mother,” adding, “Nigeria needs genuine and urgent change to pull it out of the brink.”

According to him, if the country will get to the promised land and achieve its target,  “there is urgent need for the best, the most competent, most credible from the north and the south to come together and labour for the sake of our country.”

Mallam Nasir el-Rufai in his own view, bemoaned the depression in the nation’s socio-political space, expressing the fear that unless Nigerians rises to the occasion, the situation could become more pathetic.”

He said Boko Harram, bombing and other vices had assumed alarming proportion the country was not expecting.

While blaming conscription of opportunity, lack of employment and bad leadership for the malaise, the Minister urged the authorities to do something to arrest the trends before it went out of hand.

Professor Pat Utomi in his own contribution agreed with el-Rufai, while he warned against impending anarchy, saying the leadership of the country should strive to avoid revenge of the poor.

Utomi urged Nigerians of voting age to register, vote and ensure that their votes count, stressing the need “for us to sacrifice for the future of our children.”