From Desmond
Mgboh, Kano
Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, has indicted the military for the nation’s woes, saying their incursion into political leadership was responsible for the country’s lack of progress and unfulfilled dreams.
Yakassai, who was speaking on the occasion of his 90th birthday celebration on Saturday in Kano, said the military an institution undermined the progress of Nigeria by forcing its way into a career that was clearly not its own, nor their training.
The birthday celebration attracted guests, including politicians of diverse backgrounds, from across Nigeria.
He held that, “All the sordid state of affairs in the country was brought about by the years of military rule in the country. The military in Nigeria has arrogated to itself the right to rule the country, either in uniform or in mulfti, and where it is necessary for them to give way, they make sure that they and they alone will decide who to succeed them”
The Second Republic political adviser to President Shehu Shagari said that Nigeria today was a huge disappointment to the nation”s founding fathers, in the likes of the Sarduna of Sokoto, Mallam Aminu Kano, Dr. NNamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who had worked so hard to give birth to a great and prosperous country.
He added that , “ Those of us who were around before the birth of the First Republic are now full of lamentations, seeing that our country has been left behind by its contemporaries in areas like public service , economy , agriculture, technology and scientific advancement, among others”
He expressed hope that things would get better in the nearest future and submitted that the solution to the different categories of woes bedeviling the country presently would start from the return of the military to the barracks, a step he stated had already begun.
“For Nigeria to realize her full potentials democratically, elections must be organized and run by truly partisan electoral commission” he further declared, while praying that all should come together and strive for the advancement of the nation.
In his goodwill message, former President Goodluck Jonathan expressed delight that God Almighty had blessed him with long life, strength, and wisdom.
The former President who was represented by the former Minister of State for Defense ,Musiliu Obanikoro said that the celebrant had been able to maintain an impartial, broad- minded worldview in the pursuit of the unity of the country, despite being a Northern leader and a founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). “I have no doubt that you will continue to serve as a source of inspiration and a testimony that honesty, selflessness and love for one another are tenets we all need to imbibe to build a nation of our dream” former President Jonathan said.