Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, renowned political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi and human rights lawyer, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, yesterday, expressed concerns over the diminishing value system in Nigeria, just as they concluded that no nation can grow without building strong institutions.

The trio, in separate remarks during the 22nd Mike Okonkwo yearly lecture and 18th Bishop Mike Okonkwo essay competition for secondary school students in Nigeria, held in Lagos, wondered why the nation has been so divided in recent time.

Utomi, who was chairman of the event, while trying to identify some of the factors creating the division, pointed out that sentiment based on what he described as ‘emotion, reasons and the gap between us and them’ in the system is one of the major reasons the country is polarised.

He deplored what some Nigerians put on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “There may be a need to examine the brains of some people, because of what such persons write on Twitter.”

Speaking on the eroding value system, the don noted: “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; but when character is lost, all is lost. This is where Nigeria is.”

Utomi also expressed anxiety at the judicial system, saying he was forced to come to terms with a friend, who said the nation’s democracy has not been profitable, not to talk of yielding dividends. He decried the situation where the executive arm of the government is, or has become intolerant of other arms.

To address the myriad of challenges facing the country, the senior lawyer said there was need to review the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which he maintained, lied against itself.

“Nigeria needs a new Constitution that is not imposed on us. Government is making a great mistake by thinking it can use the same 1999 Constitution to amend it. Amendment plus amendment of the present Constitution will continue to fail. We must deep ourselves into the constitutional River Jordan to be healed of our leprosy,” he advised.

Okonkwo, in his remarks, said it has got to a point where individual Nigerians must stand up to do something about the situation.
He said: “Politicians have bastardised the whole country. Their actions are no longer about the interest of Nigeria, but a personal interest. The most important thing is to stand alone for whatever is the truth.”