Human rights lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ogebe has recounted an encounter with a Cameroonian counterpart in Washington that made him proud to be Nigerian, highlighting the country’s role in defending democratic principles.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television from 2:49, Ogebe recalled meeting the Cameroonian lawyer years ago in the United States. “I never forget in Washington many years ago, a Cameroonian made me feel proud of Nigeria. She said, ‘In your country, your president tried to run for third term and you people stopped him,’ and said, ‘We look at Nigerians with awe.’ I felt good,” Ogebe narrated.
The lawyer noted that the conversation was in reference to the 2006 political episode in which a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed then-President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek a third term was rejected by the National Assembly after widespread public opposition.
According to Ogebe, the Cameroonian’s words underscored the importance of civic engagement and the capacity of Nigerians to stand firm against political overreach. He said the incident remains a source of national pride because it demonstrated that democratic values can prevail when citizens and institutions unite to protect them.
Ogebe emphasized that such moments in Nigeria’s history should serve as reminders of the power of collective action in defending constitutional governance. He also encouraged Nigerians not to lose sight of the democratic strides already made, despite the current political and economic challenges facing the country.
“For someone from a neighboring country to say they look at Nigerians with awe because we stopped a president from changing the constitution to extend his tenure, that tells you the impact of what we did,” Ogebe said. “It was a moment when we showed Africa and the world that Nigeria can defend its democracy.”
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