ABUJA – As the nation marked its 64th independence anniversary, the former Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro has said he feels like weeping for the Nigeria.
Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after a press conference in Abuja at the unveiling of the logo of his nongovernmental organisation (NGO), NigeriaFirst, Okiro said that what they anticipated as small boys is not what they are seeing.
The unveiling of the NigeriaFIRST™ Honors Award 2024 is to mark NIGERIA at 64 and JusticeNOW International at 5 with the theme: Nigeria We Hail Thee, In Brotherhood We Stand For An Advanced National Patriotism And Indigenous Innovation.
Okiro said: “To be honest with you, sometime, I feel like weeping, because what we anticipated as small boys is not what we are seeing. A lot things have happened. Nigeria fought a civil war, had military regimes, went through democratic settings. Here we are today. Nigerians are crying, the economy is bad. When I look back, Nigeria is what it is now than what it was during British colonialism.”
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Advising government and citizens what to do to come out of the quagmire the country finds itself, Okiro said, “government should go back to the drawing board. We citizens should also go back to the drawing board, not only the leaders. Things cannot get better if there is no support from the people because it takes two to tango.
“It is not the system of government that matters. British practice parliamentary system; America, presidential. It depends on the people that manages it. Nomenclature is immaterial, because democracy is government for the people and by the people.”
Speaking on the two areas he wants government to address immediately, the former Inspector General of Police said, “security is very important. Security personnel should be well paid; they should be well equipped and well trained.
“I don’t see any reason why we should import anything to Nigeria. Nigeria has everything. In the 1980s when Babangida came in, he banned importation of sorghum and wheat, he banned importation of flower. Nigeria breweries were making beer with sorghum and maize. I believe Nigerians can eat what they produce. Ban importation in Nigeria that will reduce the pressure on foreign exchange.”
He also called for the improvement on welfare of security agencies.
