Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, expressed his regrets that instead of progressing towards becoming a unified nation, Nigerians have taken steps backward to merely remain a country.
Anyaoku reminisced about the safe and secure travel within Nigeria during his youth and emphasized the need to return to those bygone days when Nigeria was functional.
Chief Emek made these remarks on Tuesday in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, during the 12th Emeka Anyaoku Distinguished Lecture series, which centered on the theme “The Imperative of Good Governance in Nigeria.” The event was organized by Youth Affairs International.
Anyaoku began by thanking the Governor of Akwa Ibom State for hosting the lecture, and he expressed his delight that Akwa Ibom State was selected as the venue for this event.
Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth continued, “When the organizers approached me and mentioned they were considering Akwa Ibom State, it happened to be a few days after I had watched a television program in which His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, discussed his emphasis on education and the allocation of state resources to education rather than luxuries. I was deeply impressed.”
Anyaoku noted that what he had seen and read about Akwa Ibom encouraged him to believe that if governance, as conducted in Akwa Ibom, were to spread nationwide, Nigeria would have a better chance of returning to the period when the nation was fully functional.
Recalling his youth, Anyaoku mentioned that it was a time when it was safe to travel within Nigeria, and hope was abundant among the younger generation.
He highlighted the importance of restoring that period in Nigeria’s history when the country functioned not only in terms of security but, more crucially, in terms of providing hope.