Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Thursday disagreed with the former Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, over the calls for revolution as the solution to the subversion of the nation�s democratic process.
While Abubakar and Tinubu called for revolution as a way of ensuring that the peoples� votes count during elections, Danjuma said that the method was not the best way to redress the grievances of Nigerians.
Former Abia State, Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, also shared the pro-revolution sentiment to resolve the subversion of the rule of law and democracy.
The development came just as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), advocated strong opposition as a catalyst to responsible government.
Abubakar and other personalities spoke at a public presentation of three books written by Prof. Ben Nwabueze at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos.
The three books are entitled: �How President Obasanjo subverted Nigeria�s federal system,� �How President Obasanjo subverted the rule of law and democracy�, and �The Judiciary as the Third Estate of the Realm�.
Abubakar, who chaired the occasion, said the time had come for a realistic approach to the national questions.
He said,� There has been a subversion of the rule of law and the democratic process in Nigeria and tensions are beginning to be high and this can lead to revolution.
�I also wish to say that there is the need for political restructuring in the country.
�And very soon, we will put the machinery in motion to realise this objective.�
Tinubu said that revolution would be the only option to the abuse of the constitutional provisions for the electoral process.
He said, �� There has been a derailment from the constitutional provisions for the conduct of elections and act of governance.
�With the situation on ground, revolution will be the last resort in this country.�
According to Kalu, the subversion of the rule of law by successive governments as unhealthy for the nation�s democracy. He said that Nigerians should resist the development.
But Danjuma urged Nigerians to shun revolution because of the socio-economic problems associated with it.
He said, �One is not unmindful of the prevailing political situation in this country today, but we must not resort to revolution. We should not wish for another revolution.
�This is because those who start revolution will discover at the end of the day that the end does not justify the means.
�I don�t think that revolution will solve Nigeria�s problems.�
Agbakoba also told the audience that if revolution was not desirable, as canvassed by Danjuma, opposing parties to the Federal Government should provide a strong opposition as a government-in-waiting.
He said, �Since Gen. Danjuma said that revolution is not good for the country, then we need a strong opposition as a half way measure.
�I don�t know why Kalu�s party (PPA) should be joining Government of National Unity and why Chief Ume Ezeoke should withdraw from Gen. Buhari�s petition.
�I challenge the former VP to rise up to the occasion and provide a viable opposition to the ruling government.
�This is what happens in advanced countries of the world.�
The event was attended by who�s who in the legal profession and eminent personalities from different walks of life who extolled the virtues of Nwabueze.
They included the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Action Congress vice-presidential candidate, Chief Ben Obi; some former state governors � Chief Segun Osoba (Ogun), Chief James Ibori (Delta), Mr. Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), and Dr. Chris Ngige.
Legal luminaries that graced the occasion included Prof. Alfred Kasumu (SAN), Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN),Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chief Ladi Williams (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and Mr. Emeka Ngige (SAN).
Meanwhile, the former Vice-President has said that he is ready to face the House of Representatives� panel probing the power sector scam.
Abubakar said he would, however, not state anything categorical when invited.
Abubakar stated this during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday.
He added that although he was the former chairman of the power sector committee under the immediate past administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, he was sidelined all through the period he occupied that position.
He said, �I will appear before any probe panel, but I will have nothing to tell them. Though the former President made me the chairman of the committee, he cut me off by telling the members not to report to me.
�I already subjected myself to probe in the past by appearing before the Petroleum Technology Development Fund probe in the past and testified. I will appear before them because I do not have anything to hide.�
Asked if he would return to the Peoples Democratic Party if there were moves to reconcile with him, he said under no circumstances would such a move materialise.
�If I decide to go back to the party, it will eventually collapse the whole political system in the country because we will have a one party state, which is what the PDP is craving for,� he added.