A former deputy governor of Ogun State, Senator Adegbenga Sefiu Kaka, has lamented that Nigeria still remains in a parlous state after 57 years of independence from Britain.
Speaking with our correspondent, Kaka, who also represented Ogun East in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, said, “When we do a sort of conscience searching and have a sober reflection of the journey so far in the last 57 years, I would say it is a sorry case that we remain in a sort of parlous state.”
He said it was disheartening that at 57, Nigeria had nothing to beat its chest for, when compared with other countries along which it gained independence in
1960.
Kaka, however, said that despite its parlous state, Nigeria needed to march forward with bigger hope for the future, saying, though opportunities abound everywhere, they remained largely untapped.
“So, I would say that with 57 years gone by, Nigeria is no longer a toddler. I mean it is a long time in the life of a nation. So, all hands must be on deck. Both the led and leaders must just have to come to terms with the reality that we have to change, positively, our ways of life,” he said.
The former lawmaker said despite the missed opportunities, Nigerians should congratulate themselves for still being together while nursing high hopes.
He called on all Nigerians to join hands to move the country forward so as to catch up with contemporaries that had left her behind.
On the current renewed agitation for the restructuring of the nation, Kaka said the demand should not be misconstrued for calls for the disintegration of the
country.
“We are unanimous through the length and breadth of the country and we are in total agreement that we are better together with our size, with our unity in diversity and with the fact that the cultural blend is a beauty to behold. What we just need to do is to understand ourselves and to ensure that for the unity to be upheld, there must be justice,”
Kaka said.
