₦airaland Forum

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, tackled Mike Ozekhome, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), at a programme in Abuja, on Thursday.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFdWb1q06I4

Wike, who was an awardee at This Nigeria Lecture and Award, said previous speakers acted as if there has been no gain for the country under democracy.

The theme of the event was “25 Years of Unbroken Democracy – Challenges, Prospects and Possibilities”.

According to the video obtained by News360 Nigeria , Wike said: “Ladies and gentlemen, yes I am an awardee but also a Nigerian. It will be wrong sitting here without correcting some impressions. We are talking about 25 years of democracy; we know we have challenges. I expected the lecturer to also speak of progress. But the lecture was just about criticism, nothing was said about progress. Are you telling me that no single progress was made? We can say there is progress but there’s need for improvement.

“Just like Shehu Sanu said they were locked up and detained. But that doesn’t happen under this democracy; that’s progress. You have spoken about infrastructural development in FCT, that’s progress. So I just said I should say the fact. And again, the fact that you people are activists does not mean that you would do well in power. Activists have failed.”

Pointing towards Shehu Sani, Wike asked, “When you were in Senate, how did you perform?”

Then to Ozekhome, he asked, “As an activist, how many times have you rejected briefs? Those who rigged election, how many times have you defended them? It’s not about postulating all the time.”

Sani and Ozekhome did not have the time to react to Wike.

Earlier, Sani said rejecting power from the military in 1999 was a fundamental mistake by democracy fighters.

He regretted their inability to take the opportunity of taking over power from the military like the ANC did in South Africa.

Speaking in a panel discussion at the event, Sani recalled how he and other democracy fighters were imprisoned for some years before the death of former military leader Sani Abacha which led to the release of many of them.

According to him, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who took over from Abacha, called them to hand over power to them but they refused to cooperate with the military, an action which he now feels was a fundamental error.

“Abdulsalami Abubakar invited all of us who fought for democracy; that I am going to hand over power to a democratic government and I want all of you the freedom fighters to come together and take over power. At that very time, Gani opposed it.”

“Three times he was inviting us we even refused to answer his call. He invited the politicians, he didn’t even invite them; they were knocking at his door.

“After we decided to listen to him, we came and sat down; what do we do? That is what the ANC in South Africa did, after the struggle, they took over political power, but after our struggle in 1998 and 1999, we made a fundamental mistake and said, we are not going to cooperate with the military.

“Mike Ozekhome is sitting here, he is one of those who opposed that we should not join. Gani opposed Falana, and Olisa Agbakoba all opposed. It was Tinubu who said if we don’t get in, who is going to be there?

“Then by the time we all agreed to join the politics, politicians had taken over all posts. Mike Ozekhome tried to be governor of Edo State, he couldn’t, Olisa tried to be president he couldn’t, Gani tried to be president he couldn’t, Falana tried to be governor of his state he couldn’t, I tried to be governor of Kaduna State I couldn’t because the space were all taken over,” Sani said.

https://news360ng.com/as-a-senator-how-did-you-perform-wike-knocks-shehu-sani-ozekhome-video/

Wike do not know what progress means. He is foolish and can say anything just to appear to be sensible. How can you claim that Nigeria is making progress when we are more divided today than we were in 1999? How can he claim Nigeria is making progress when our GDP has gone back to pre-2015 level? Which progress are we making when bandits and terrorists are destroying every space in Nigeria? We are anong the most food_insecure country on earth today with unrelenting and unaddressed population growth. Our electoral process has gone worse and politicians now grab power and are unable to lead.

See wike mentioning infrastructure as achievement in democracy as if roads, industries, other infrastructures wasn't built during military... Olodo man

POLITICS means doing anything possible to retain power, even if it means selling your people out for ministerial position and relevance.

Wike is like a local champion, After 20 something yrs of democracy, if this is what he calls progress, he needs to be in a psychiatric hospital for proper check-up.

I just confirmed what this Sani Shenu just said.
I once heard it from an old politician but now Late that the lives of Obasanjo couldn't have been Nigeria president that when the military wanted to handover power to civilization rule, many politician was afraid to take over power, maybe because they did not truth the military, they have to bring up someone with a military background that's Obasanjo.
They never thought the military will handover power to the civilian rule one-day.
Apart from the uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria as at today , the APC government has taken Nigeria backward with some of their nonsense policies.

Wike should try n learn respect atleast...
And d drunk even said Nigeria is making progress....progress on security or economic reforms or he's just thinking building road n train means progress?

Wike giving them knocks.

EasternActivist:
See wike mentioning infrastructure as achievement in democracy as if roads, industries, other infrastructures wasn't built during military... Olodo man

What should be the metrics for success in Rivers State?

Roboto11:
What should be the metrics for success in Rivers State?

Rivers??
What brought about Rivers state here?

Wike punching the mouths of the hypocrites. Kudos to Abuja Landlord.
"it was Tinubu who said if we don't get in, who's going to be there? Then by the time we all agreed to join the politics, politicians had taken over all the posts"... Follow who know road, Tinubu too sabi.

Wike just exposed these hypocrites for what they are

It's easy to stand on the byline and propound some theories of morality, get them into the mix and see the real characters around

Even those ones wailing up there, I don't know what makes them think they'd do better than Wike

“Abdulsalami Abubakar invited all of us who fought for democracy; that I am going to hand over power to a democratic government and I want all of you the freedom fighters to come together and take over power. At that very time, Gani opposed it.”

“Three times he was inviting us we even refused to answer his call. He invited the politicians, he didn’t even invite them; they were knocking at his door.

“After we decided to listen to him, we came and sat down; what do we do? That is what the ANC in South Africa did, after the struggle, they took over political power, but after our struggle in 1998 and 1999, we made a fundamental mistake and said, we are not going to cooperate with the military.

“Mike Ozekhome is sitting here, he is one of those who opposed that we should not join. Gani opposed Falana, and Olisa Agbakoba all opposed. It was Tinubu who said if we don’t get in, who is going to be there?

Then by the time we all agreed to join the politics, politicians had taken over all posts. Mike Ozekhome tried to be governor of Edo State, he couldn’t, Olisa tried to be president he couldn’t, Gani tried to be president he couldn’t, Falana tried to be governor of his state he couldn’t, I tried to be governor of Kaduna State I couldn’t because the space were all taken over,” Sani said.

Eyah. So why did they refused initially? What was it that got them afraid?

PressMyButton:
Wike punching the mouths of the hypocrites. Kudos to Abuja Landlord.
"it was Tinubu who said if we don't get in, who's going to be there? Then by the time we all agreed to join the politics, politicians had taken over all the posts"... Follow who know road, Tinubu too sabi.

You con dey wonder why he’s got a lot of men on his side. You con dey wonder why he was able to displace a sitting president..

One thing I like about tinubu is the fact that he’s fearless & bold. He’s a human version of honey badger 🦡. Him no dey look uche face at all..

They all got their chances but due to fear or whatever, they all missed out and till today, they’re yet to find their feet..

One thing in life about being a man is that you must be fearless and bold. Without these 2 traits, you won’t be able to amount to anything special in life !

samwash:
I just confirmed what this Sani Shenu just said.
I once heard it from an old politician but now Late that the lives of Obasanjo couldn't have been Nigeria president that when the military wanted to handover power to civilization rule, many politician was afraid to take over power, maybe because they did not truth the military, they have to bring up someone with a military background that's Obasanjo.
They never thought the military will handover power to the civilian rule one-day.
Apart from the uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria as at today , the APC government has taken Nigeria backward with some of their nonsense policies.

Honestly, I was surprised as I saw Shehu Sani’ name. I didn’t know he has been in the political game right from time, even before El-rufai. Him for don become Kaduna governor teeh teeh but fear no gree for ham..

Fear nah mad thing o..

GeneralPula:
“Abdulsalami Abubakar invited all of us who fought for democracy; that I am going to hand over power to a democratic government and I want all of you the freedom fighters to come together and take over power. At that very time, Gani opposed it.”

“Three times he was inviting us we even refused to answer his call. He invited the politicians, he didn’t even invite them; they were knocking at his door.

“After we decided to listen to him, we came and sat down; what do we do? That is what the ANC in South Africa did, after the struggle, they took over political power, but after our struggle in 1998 and 1999, we made a fundamental mistake and said, we are not going to cooperate with the military.

“Mike Ozekhome is sitting here, he is one of those who opposed that we should not join. Gani opposed Falana, and Olisa Agbakoba all opposed. It was Tinubu who said if we don’t get in, who is going to be there?

Then by the time we all agreed to join the politics, politicians had taken over all posts. Mike Ozekhome tried to be governor of Edo State, he couldn’t, Olisa tried to be president he couldn’t, Gani tried to be president he couldn’t, Falana tried to be governor of his state he couldn’t, I tried to be governor of Kaduna State I couldn’t because the space were all taken over,” Sani said.

Eyah. So why did they refused initially? What was it that got them afraid?

Abacha was the problem. He could not be trusted to hand over. Abacha decided to contest by transmuting from a military ruler to a civilian President. This was however part of the fear.

The events of June 12, led to national crisis and a serious distrust between the political class and the military. The failure of IBB and the the AFRC to hand over to Abiola, was a disaster. Abacha long nursed the ambition to take over from IBB. Once he became the head of state, a systematic removal of all opposition voices started, using Major Mustapha, to cause all kinds of trouble in the land. Opposition figures were killed in broad daylight while those who could not wait to be killed ran for their dear lives.

Pro democratic forces teamed up to form NADECO and other pressure groups to get Abacha to leave power. Obasanjo was part of those who opposed him and it nearly cost Obasanjo his life in 1996. There was nobody called Wike. One of the voices who could talk about that period was Festus Keyamo, who practiced under tutelage of the respected Gani Fawehinmi. Again there were the likes of Dele Momodu, the late Mr. Kokori, etc.

Our country was in deep political crisis with the dishonesty of the military. Those were dark periods in our country. So it was until Abacha passed on. None of them could trust Abdusalam to hand over. That’s what played out. They thought that he would continue like Abacha, but he proved otherwise. The fear that the military would continue, that they could be killed, made most of them stay far away.

While Abubakar was arranging to hand over, core politicians who saw it, quickly took over. They took over spaces, keeping the then activists away from positions of power.

The question about the then activists is what have they achieved with the positions that they got into? Has the country become better under them? The answer is a big NO.

The country has been deeply divided along religious and ethnic lines, under the watch of the same activists. Deep hatred has become the order of the day. We thought that Tinubu would immediate initiate the process of national reconciliation and healing, but alas, it gets worse daily.

Fergie001

Mynd44

Sir help us to move it to front page

Wike is one of those who benefitted the most from return to democracy even when he did precious little to bring it about so one understands why he should feel a need to defend the present system in place.

First of all, for those talking about why the activists refused to take power from the military, cast your mind to Shonekan. A fine gentleman with a great reputation. He was given power and kicked out in 3 months by same military and is more like a caricature of how not to take what is offered you in Nigeria's political study today.

Secondly, Abdulsalam refused to accept that the 1995 constitution be used to start the new democratic governance. For those of you shouting regionalism, resource control, true federalism, restructuring and other beautiful lingos, go and read the 1995 constitutional draft. That's the first constitution since the 1970s that recognized the six regions and abolished the oil dichotomy as well as returned resources back to the regions. That constitution even abrogated the 1978 Land Use Decree!! So if you are wondering why we have men like Wike in power today, who can manipulate the system to their benefit and still have the nerves to tell us they did so, look no further than the 1999 constitution. The 1999 constitution was a fraud. No serious person will believe it can birth something good especially with Nigeria's breed of power mongers. So for the activists, it looked more like a landmine being set to hand over the country to them with a defective constitution such that they can be set up for failure. If you ask Nigerians how they feel about democracy after 25 years, I can bet you a strong majority will tell you it is no better than the military rule.

So, I think it is disrespectful of Wike to talk down on Sani and Ozekhome in that manner. He benefitted from their struggle, made a mess of the democracy they fought for and still has mouth to criticize them? Haba!!

Majority of Nigerians, not just them at the time, did not trust the offer from a military man who had only been in power for less than a month. That was why they rejected his offer. Consequently, power was handed out on the Stateside to those who were previously jobless and who only expected to cash out briefly before another coup swept them away. And that is how politics/politician became a job description in Nigeria today.

Wike the wicked

Wike asked some valid questions and we should not allow personal hatred to deflate the questions.

Shehu Sani as an activist,has also been a Senator. What did he achieve?

Ozekhome is an activist and a fire brand legal luminary. How many legal causes has he championed for the downtrodden and politicians who were cheated out of power through rigging?

This man just talks. No decorum at all. He looks hepatitic from alcoholism

Wike giving them knocks.

Udopasa:
Wike asked some valid questions and we should not allow personal hatred to deflate the questions.

Shehu Sani as an activist,has also been a Senator. What did he achieve?

Ozekhome is an activist and a fire brand legal luminary. How many legal causes has he championed for the downtrodden and politicians who were cheated out of power through rigging?

Between the trio of Ozekhome, Sani and Wike, who are all lawyers by the way, who has outrightly rigged an election and bastardized our democracy the most? It is hypocritical of an election rigger, looter of the commonwealth and destroyer of the system to accuse activists of failing to rectify the system he destroyed

Wike is a nobody, let him go and sit down jare..

Wike spoke the truth.

Ojuntana:
Between the trio of Ozekhome, Sani and Wike, who are all lawyers by the way, who has outrightly rigged an election and bastardized our democracy the most? It is hypocritical of an election rigger, looter of the commonwealth and destroyer of the system to accuse activists of failing to rectify the system he destroyed

Ozekhome.

Roboto11:
Ozekhome.

Can you kindly point me to when Ozekhome rigged an election

Chikel20000:
Wike should try n learn respect atleast...
And d drunk even said Nigeria is making progress....progress on security or economic reforms or he's just thinking building road n train means progress?

Did you read the post at all?

Ojuntana:
Can you kindly point me to when Ozekhome rigged an election

Ozekhome as a lawyer defends anyone with the right brief £$€¥ - Ego, Owo, Kudi, Money 💰.

Roboto11:
Ozekhome as a lawyer defends anyone with the right brief £$€¥ - Ego, Two, Kudi, Money 💰.

That's rigging and destroying democratic system in your view abi?

Ojuntana:
That's rigging and destroying democratic system in your view abi?

No, it is strengthening democracy.