Governor Adamu in Owerri, Delivers Champion Lecture

The success or failure of democracy lies on the people, not on democracy itself; and therefore the capacity of democracy to do both the possible and the impossible is a function of its support system. This was the assertion of Governor Adamu at Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria while delivering the 2005 Champion Newspapers annual better society lecture.

Governor Adamu who spoke on the topic, Democracy as a Catalyst for National Integration – the Nigerian Example traced the history of democracy in various countries and concluded that democracy was an evolutionary and not a revolutionary process. He stated that various countries which practiced democracy evolved it through their own unique methods and so Nigeria had to find a way of evolving a democratic process that will suite its peculiarities.

Various Nigerian governments from independence had sought to integrate the country through legislations, but this had not stopped the quest for a comprehensive national formula. He stated that constitutional provisions by themselves where not adequate but the will of the people was required for proper national integration to take place. He then urged Nigerians to commit themselves to national cohesion by them actions.

The lecture was attended by the Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Publisher of Champion Newspapers and a host of Eastern Nigerian politicians.