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Kogo urges Nigerian leaders to put national unity above other interests
An International Constitutional Lawyer and Democracy Analyst, Dr Mainasara Kogo has called on contemporary Nigerian leaders to emulate the first republic nationalists by putting national unity above personal and sectional interest.
Kogo made the call while speaking on “Contemporary Democracy in the Context of National Unity under the 1999 Constitution” at the OurNigeria News Awards organised by OurNigeria News magazine on Friday, in Abuja.
According to him, Nigeria as a nation currently has more politicians than statesmen who are truly concerned about the unity of the country.
Kogo said to understand the foundational cornerstones of Nigeria as a united and independent country, there was a need to reflect on the trajectory of the events that led to Nigeria’s independence.
He said there was a unity of purpose among the foremost nationalists when the blueprint for each of the three regions was prepared with a view to making Nigeria among the great superpowers of the world.
In his words, “Nationalism of the first republic was based on competence, credibility and the national interest.
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“We had an abundance of statesmen whose interests are over and above their parochial, sectional, regional, tribal, religious, or personal constituents.
“Get someone who is ever ready to be a servant leader, who is ready to be the first to suffer and the last to enjoy.”
Kogo said that when the late Sir Ahmadu Bello was killed in 1966, he had only 214 pounds, which he described as “diametrically different from the politicians that are singing in trillions.
“It is very important for this gathering to know that if you are thinking of building a state or building a nation, then look for a statesman but if you want to overheat the polity, look for a politician.
“We have more politicians now than statesmen and that is the reason why you are seeing so many things bizarre from those that are politicians.
“Their foremost interest is how to manipulate and win the election that is coming,” he said.
