The Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Chairman of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, Mrs Amina Mohammed has warned that Nigeria cannot afford to fail with the 2023 general elections around the corner.
Amina spoke via zoom, in a keynote speech she presented to the Nigerian Bar Association State of the Nation Dialogue, with the theme: Security, Economy and Administration of Justice.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General said, “As Africa’s leading economy, with the biggest port of views, and security anchor for our neighbouring countries, Nigeria cannot simply afford to fail.
Amina noted that the only path for a nation to succeed is through sustainable development as advocated by the United Nations.
She reminded the judiciary that as members of the Bar, “You have a key role to play to advance the country’s aspiration towards 2023 general elections.
She disclosed that the UN will support any process that will lead to credible, all inclusive, free and fair general elections.
In addition, she said the “UN is committed to accompanying Nigeria on this journey.
She, however, expressed hope “that things will be turned around to a more inclusive, equal and just society where we will embrace the best of our traditions with open minds and build trust that will allow us to build a better future together.
The UN top official noted that the increase in the number of registered voters from 84 million to 93 million is encouraging and suggests that Nigerians are enthusiastic about the electoral process.
She did not hide her feelings concerning the way politicians and candidates are engaging themselves in politics of bitterness, rancour and acrimony.
“However, we have continued to witness attacks on institutions, fake news, hate speech, the spate of religious and ethnic identities, conditions as well as attacks on INEC facilities since the political campaigns began, Amina Mohammed lamented.
In view of the foregoing, the UN Deputy Secretary-General appealed to the judiciary to brace up and remain an impartial arbiter.
“In this context, the report of this forum cannot be underestimated. The judiciary will be called upon to discuss and manage potential conflict or tension that may arise as a result of the elections.
“As such the judiciary is urged to remain impartial and avoid activities that will undermine it to fulfill its role as assigned by the constitution.
In his welcome address, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau SAN appealed to members of the legal profession to quit using their legal skills and knowledge only for remuneration.
“While remuneration for the services we render is good, we must not make it the primary motivation for the work we do; we
must be primarily motivated by the cause of the people.
“That is the path for national development. We have, in this maiden State of the Nation Dialogue, chosen three thematic areas of Security, Economy and Administration of Justice.
“We will, using our carefully selected Keynote Speaker and Panellists on the three subjects set the tone for the nation from the perspective of the NBA.
“We have invited all the Presidential candidates to participate in this conversation in the hope that whoever wins the election, we would have a basis to further engage and hold government accountable to the people of Nigeria.
“We shall document the position of the NBA from this Dialogue and make the same available to all the Presidential candidates.
“We believe that doing this will also help in re-establishing our leadership position in the society, based on our service to the people while ensuring that we protect the legal space and mentor the younger generation in this path of nobility” NBA President said.
A panelist, Chairman of the Police Service Commission and former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, said the next president of Nigeria would need a strong political will to reform the force and make it perform its constitutional duties better.
Arase insisted that the security of life and property is a responsibility of the government and advised the incoming government to consider the deployment of technology in the fight against crime.
For Brigadier-General Abubakar Hanafi Sa’ad, another panelist, warned against profiling any ethnic group.
”Don’t profile ethnic groups. Not all herdsmen are terrorists,” he said.
Among the 18 presidential candidates, only Peter Umeadi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Almustapha Hamza of the Action Alliance and Omoleye Sowore of the African Action Congress were present.
