Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Senator Anthony Adefuye, among other prominent Nigerians have underlined the place of patriotism in nation building.
The spoke at the weekend at the 13th Afrikanwatch Network annual lecture, award and induction held at Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, under the chairmanship of Senator Adefuye.
They argued that the country had undergone national rebirth in different forms, expressing confidence that Nigeria has a brighter future.
The occasion was attended by former Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Professor Fola Lasisi; Professor Solomon Akinboye of the University of Lagos; Mr Sam Omatseye, Chairman, Editor Board of the Nation newspaper, Major-General Victor Odeka (retd), represented by his son, Mr. Victor Odeka; Professor Stella Chiemeke, Vice Chancellor, University of Delta; Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, represented by Honourable Desmond Elliot; Dr. Felicia Agubata; Honourable Okey- Joe Onaukalusi, representing Oshodi/Isolo federal constituency; and Dr. Yunusa Tanko.
In his address, read by a former President, Nigerian Cartographic Association (NCA), Professor Andrew Obafemi of the University of Port Harcourt, Adefuye stressed the need for collective efforts to build a country of our dream.
“Nigeria is our country, and we must all come together to contribute to its progress irrespective of the numerous,” he emphasized.
In a keynote address, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Fagbemi represented by the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, expressed confidence that the quest for a national rebirth and reclaiming the identity of a nation is on track.
This he alluded to what he described as giant strides the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is making, to bequeath the nation of Nigerians’ dreams to generations to come.
“It also suggests that we are all stakeholders in the Nigerian project and we must give our all,” Fagbemi added.
The minister, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to give the present government a chance and advised that those sabotaging government’s effort to have a rethink before the long arm of the law catches up with them.
On his part, the guest speaker, Professor Hope Eghagha, a professor of English and Literary studies, University of Lagos, who spoke on the topic: Nigerian politics of today, the quest for national rebirth, reclaiming the identity of Nation, said national rebirth is one of the channels for refocusing the energies of the nation into development, especially when a country almost grinds to a halt as currently experience.
“So, the nation has always struggled with a rebirth of some sort, in different names, nomenclatures, and descriptions The professor however asked, what is the Nigerian identity?, nearly seventy years after independence the Nigerian identity is yet under interrogation. “Who is a Nigerian? What access does the Nigerian identity give a citizen to the good things of life? “Are Nigerians regionally or nationally defined? How does the federal government encourage or discourage the promotion of a national identity? What are the shared values that make a Nigerian, Nigerian?
“More fundamentally, what impression does the name Nigeria evoke in the international community and what can we do to change the image? It is apposite to restate the fact that Nigeria needs a rebirth, and that the men and women at the helm of the nations affairs do not seem ready to drive that rebirth initiative.
“A rebirth can only be possible if all stakeholders key into the process. Yet in our circumstances, it would require an outsider from mainstream politics to achieve that. When this will be, we are no prophets to tell.”
In his address, the Editor-in-Chief of the news outfit, Mark Orgu said the event was organised to chart a better course for Nigeria, for the interest of peace and progress.
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