Nigerian leaders are allegedly stealing our common patrimony ―Falana

LEGAL luminary and rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, on Tuesday alleged the nation’s leader have been blindly stealing the common patrimony of Nigerians, thus inhibiting human capacities development and spreading poverty, which have heightened frustration among the citizenry.

He alleged that “our leaders since 1960 are the enemies of our people. But, the future is for the youth and they have to work in synergy with advocates of youth emancipation in the country to guarantee the socio-economic growth of Nigeria.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the lead guest speaker at a colloquium held inside the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife to commemorate the 43rd birthday of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja 11) also urged traditional rulers in the country to rise in defence of women, with a view to save them from lack of assess to educational opportunities and undue harassment.

He stated, “our Obas should protect our women from assault in the society. We must bring up more women and give them more leverage in term of education. No Nigerian must drop out of school out of frustration occasioned by poverty Youths are the leaders of today. Awolowo, Azikwes, Sardauna, Obasanjo and other ruled their region in their prime years”.

Describing calls for the restructuring of the country as germane to allow true federalism and pedestal for regional economic development, Falana specifically commended Ooni for leading the campaign among the traditional rulers in the South West for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to accede to the popular wish of Nigerians, regarding restructuring”.

According to him, “the global peace through Ooni’s trip across the globe, within the time he ascended the throne of his forefather and restoration of peace, unity and cooperation among South West monarchs are commendable development. Ooni is not in the league of monarchs rulers chasing contracts in the corridor of power thus exposing traditional institution to public opprobrium when such contracts were not executed”.

“Oba Ogunwusi empowerment programmes have greatly given hope and renewed faith to some youths. We need to help Africa and its youths to grow their capacities. In 2020, some countries are perfecting strategies to end dependence on oil. We need to explore technological innovations to prepare for the economic survival of the nation. We can’t blame God for making our case so uncomfortable”, Falana remarked.