Enugu -The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Pius Anyim, has attributed patriotism as one of the critical factors for nation building.
Anyim stated this in Enugu on Thursday at a dinner lecture on 'Democracy and Nation Building' at the first Memorial Lecture for late Justice Anthony Aniagolu who passed on June 28, 2011.
The secretary to the Federal Government noted that without patriotism, there could not be commitment to the general course of nation building.
"Except there is a radical change, except we are able to regenerate ourselves into a consciousness of patriotism, we have yet to march toward building a nation," he said.
He said that the abuse of ethnicity, race, tribe, culture and gender undermined the basis of unity and development of Nigeria.
He added that the ongoing transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan through the sustenance of democracy was gradually yielding fruits, "with President Jonathan, there is hope for Nigeria".
"President Jonathan has focused on sustaining the rule of law,building strong institutions and popular participation in governance, creation of economic process and reengineering a credible electoral process," he said.
In a message to the lecture, the Chief Judge of the federation, Justice Dahiru Musdapher represented by a Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice Chukwuma Eneh said Nigeria should return to parliamentary system of government.
Musdapher explained that the country was not ripe for presidential government as it was expensive and gave room to duplication of political offices.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani described the theme of the lecture as apt, considering the prevailing situation in the country.
Nnamani said that the rule of law was the pillar of democracy, addind that it would not be effective if the conducive environment was not created.
He described the late Aniagolu, a former justice of supreme court as a great man who made impressive legacy toward nation building and urged his children to emulate him.
In his remarks, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Petroleum, Mr Odein Ajumuogobia said that the problem of Nigeria was not diversity but the rule of law, access to resources and power.
The first son of the late judge, Mr Tony Aniagolu Jnr, thanked the dignitaries for attending the event and promised that the family would maintain the father's legacies.
Highlights of the event were a church service that preceded the lecture and presentation of gifts to winners of essay competition organised by the family. (NAN)
Vanguard Nigeria