The Former Governor of Sokoto State, Sen. Aminu Tambuwal says Nigeria has refused to harness the enormous resources God has blessed it with.
Tambuwal said this while delivering his keynote speech at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja branch (Unity Bar) 2023 Law Week on Thursday.
The theme for the event was “The Crucial Role of Legal Professionals in Reforming Nigeria’s Socio-Political Economy”.
“The fact that Nigeria is richly blessed with human and material resources is no longer in the realm of debate; and so is the reality that the country has refused, neglected or utterly failed to harness these enormous resources.
“The factors responsible for this nauseating state of affairs are multifarious but are firmly camped into social, political, economic and, to a lesser extent, cultural framework.
“Only recently, Tomola Obamuyi and Oladapo Fapetu identified Nigeria’s prominent socio-political challenges to include corruption, poverty, unemployment, insecurity, politics and governance, among others.
“Several other analysts have expanded these to include inefficient and ineffective public institutions, income inequalities, lack of democratic culture and perhaps more.
“Of course, as realist and indeed participant observers, one should no longer admit such mundane factors as political instability, regime change and colonialism’’.
He opinion that the critical role of the legal professionals will and shall continue to be in reforming ills identified above.
“The peculiar training, skills and knowledge of legal professionals are suited for multitasking.
“Under Chapters 5, 6 and 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the structure of government is delineated into the Legislature, the Executive and Judiciary.
“It is indisputable that legal professionals more than any other professionals possess the versatility to operate with distinction in all the three arms and nearly exclusively in the Judiciary’’.
He, therefore called on all Nigerians to work together with legal professionals in ensuring that Nigerians do not take the resources God has given to it for granted.
Also speaking, Moses Ebute, SAN Chairman, 2023 Law Week Organizing Committee said the annual event serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, meaningful discussions, and fostering a greater understanding of the legal landscape.
“This year’s theme is both timely and relevant, especially considering the ongoing challenges and opportunities faced by Nigeria in its socio-political and economic development.
“Legal professionals play a vital role in shaping and reforming a country’s legal framework, governance systems, and economic policies, all of which have a direct impact on the socio-political and economic landscape.
Mr Afam Okeke, the Chairman of the branch said that they were confident that the carefully-selected resource persons will thoroughly dissect the critical issues that will be thrown up and do justice to the sub-topics.
He, therefore, enjoined them to engage and actively participate in all the sessions.
