•Says Tinubu’s non-attendance of UN is 75% failure rate of his international obligation

By ZAKARI ABDULLAHI

US-based Nigerian lawyer and human rights advocate, Emmanuel Ogebe, has criticised Nigeria’s political and economic progress 66 years after independence, arguing that many citizens are yet to experience meaningful improvements in their living conditions.

Ogebe made the remarks during an interview on Inside Sources, where he assessed Nigeria’s development since gaining independence in 1960, the Federal Government’s economic policies, national priorities and the country’s representation at the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Expressing reservations about the significance of the independence anniversary, Ogebe said the occasion offered little reason for celebration given the economic hardship, insecurity and perceived inequalities confronting Nigerians.

“I can’t see how the independence has benefited Nigerians seriously,” he said.

He further argued that the government’s decision not to organise a traditional independence parade was appropriate, describing such a celebration as potentially symbolic of the country’s shortcomings rather than its achievements.

According to him, Nigerians are struggling to identify substantial improvements in their economic and social conditions compared with the period when the country gained independence.

Ogebe questions political balance and national development

The human rights advocate also raised concerns about what he described as the marginalisation of northern Christians, arguing that Nigeria’s political arrangements have failed to adequately address questions of inclusion and representation.

He compared the political structure at independence, when the presidency was held by a southern Christian and the prime ministership by a northern Muslim, with the present political dispensation.

Ogebe maintained that religious identity should not take precedence over competence, accountability and the delivery of public services.

“The Muslim-Muslim ticket has ended up hurting them more, which should tell us as a nation that religion should not be the sole determining factor, but competency and deliverables for the citizens,” he said.

He criticised what he described as competing definitions of development across different parts of the country, arguing that some political leaders receive praise for religious projects while citizens continue to demand improved roads, education, healthcare and a more favourable environment for businesses.

Ogebe also expressed concern about religious leaders who, in his view, should hold political authorities accountable but instead risk becoming aligned with those in power.

He raised concerns of payments to religious figures like Jingir who prompted Muslim domination.

Questions economic reforms and government spending

Commenting on President Bola Tinubu’s independence anniversary address, in which the President reportedly compared Nigeria’s economic challenges to a cancer requiring difficult corrective measures, Ogebe questioned whether the burden of the administration’s reforms was being matched by responsible public spending.

While acknowledging that he personally felt safer visiting Nigeria under the current administration than during the previous vindictive government of Muhammadu Buhari, Ogebe argued that some government decisions were inconsistent with the sacrifices Nigerians were being asked to make.

He cited the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign-exchange reforms, alongside concerns about presidential expenditure, debt commitments and the award of major infrastructure contracts.

“You remove subsidy. All right, you deregulated the naira. But some of the actions you take are inconsistent with the pains and sacrifices Nigerians are making,” he said.

Ogebe questioned the purchase of a presidential aircraft, the reported cancellation of a debt owed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and the scale of infrastructure commitments involving business interests associated with Gilbert Chagoury.

During the discussion, he raised figures running into tens of billions of dollars for proposed road and port projects, arguing that such commitments impose long-term financial obligations on the country.

The anchor, however, cautioned against treating all the cited amounts as funds already disbursed, noting that some commitments were still at the planning, agreement or financing stage.

Ogebe maintained that sovereign-backed borrowing and contractual commitments could create obligations for future administrations and generations of Nigerians, even where the full amounts had not yet been paid.

He argued that electricity, security and healthcare should receive greater attention in the allocation of national resources.

“If Mr President had spent $25 billion on electricity, and I know that I will have 24 hours of electricity, I don’t care if he gives it to Seyi Tinubu,” he said, illustrating his argument that public expenditure should be judged primarily by its benefits to citizens.

Raises concerns over Nigeria’s representation at UNGA

Ogebe also criticised President Tinubu’s repeated absence from the high-level sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, noting that Vice-President Kashim Shettima had represented Nigeria for a record-setting three consecutive years.

He argued that presidential attendance at the annual gathering was important for advancing Nigeria’s diplomatic interests and enabling direct engagement with other world leaders.

According to Ogebe, the Vice-President’s representation does not always carry the same diplomatic weight as the presence of the President, particularly during high-level meetings and negotiations.

He described the President’s absences as a failure to take full advantage of an important international platform for representing the country.

The discussion highlighted broader questions about Nigeria’s diplomatic priorities, international engagement and the extent to which the country’s leadership uses global forums to advance its national interests.

Recalls past imprisonment and concerns over healthcare

Reflecting on Nigeria’s healthcare system, Ogebe recounted his experience of imprisonment and torture at the Presidential Villa approximately 30 years ago, during which he was taken to the Aso Clinic for treatment after losing consciousness.

He expressed concern over subsequent reports of shortages of basic medicines at the facility, contrasting his experience with the situation he described during the earlier period of lootocrat Gen. Abacha.

Ogebe also questioned why prominent Nigerian leaders have had to seek medical treatment abroad, arguing that the situation underscores the need to strengthen domestic healthcare infrastructure.

His comments reinforced his broader argument that public resources should be directed towards essential services that benefit citizens.

Pays tribute to Reverend William Okoye

Towards the end of the interview, Ogebe paid tribute to Reverend Dr William Okoye, a former chaplain of the Presidential Villa under Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, who recently died.

He described the late cleric as a patriotic Nigerian who contributed to the country’s social and political life.

“I wish that the Nigeria that a lot of us struggle for, that we would see that in our lifetime,” Ogebe said.

The programme’s anchor also praised Okoye’s character and patriotism, joining Ogebe in expressing condolences over his death.