Nigeria a failed state at 52, says Chukwumerije

[MrVan]

By Henry Umoru & Inalegwu Shaibu

ABUJA—Senator Uche Chukwumerije, yesterday, described Nigeria as a failed state, with the Senate resolving that there was need for the three-tiers of government and leaders to return Nigeria to the path of economic growth, sustain and strengthen national unity.

This resolution followed the motion by Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, PDP, Akwa Ibom North-East and 108 other senators, congratulating Nigeria and Nigerians on her 52nd independence anniversary.

The senators, while congratulating President Goodluck Jonathan on the anniversary, noted that they appreciated that from May 29, 1999 till date, Nigeria had the longest reign of democratic government in her political history.

He said: "On Monday, October 1, Nigeria did mark her 52nd independence anniversary, having attained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960.

"Steadily and gradually, the nation is developing its domestic production capacity as an independent nation. We have become a big player in international affairs within the committee of nations."

However, Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, PDP, Abia North, said: "It took only 21 years to transform Turkey from a feudal state to a highly modernised state today. South-East Asian countries took less than 30 years to move from ex-British colonies to what they are today, Asian Tigers, and are highly developed to the point that one of them, Malaysia, took our palm produce.

"It took South Korea 18 years to move from 3rd dependent country to one of the third exporters and they have today developed to one of the top most and it took China exactly 48 years to move from a small status, being described by the West as the begging bone of Asian, to a super power.

"With our 52 years as a country, a country who took palm produce from us some years back has grown into a prosperous country and turned that product into its main exporting product.

"How would you describe us now importing it? I can only describe Nigeria as either a failed state or on the verge of being a failed one."

Vanguard Nigeria