March 28, (THEWILL) – Former Prime Minister of Britain, Boris Johnson, has said development can only thrive in a democracy that allows the people to freely choose their leaders.
Johnson spoke at the 16th edition of the Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe lectures, which was held on Monday, at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, in Lagos.
Amid the electoral violence, intimidation and suppression of voters during the 2023 elections in Nigeria, Johnson called for an open society where diversity can be tolerated.
He charged politicians to create the conditions in which the people would be able to unleash their potential through education, equal rights, among others.
“The next great freedom is the right to choose those who govern you and the right to remove them from office. It is called democracy.
“First and most importantly, you got to have equality under the law because that is the foundation of freedom. Whoever you are, rich or poor, you will receive the same scrutiny, same protection in Britain.
“Imagine the Russian police arresting Vladimir Putin? Can you imagine the Chinese police doing the same to Xi Zing Ping? It shows me that the law is enforced in my country without fear or favour.
“Whether you are rich or poor, you will receive the same scrutiny and the same protection, the same protection in the UK that is the first and most crucial freedom and the precondition for economic growth and investment.
“Freedom under the law. Freedom to live your life as you choose within the law, provided you do no harm to others. With extreme freedom and indispensable freedom is the right to choose those who govern you.
“You have the right to remove them and it’s very precious, and it works. And it’s under attack the whole time. Why did Vladimir Putin decide to launch his evil and criminal attack on Ukraine triggering the worst war in Europe in 80 years? It was because he could see that with the Ukrainians choosing a different path and going towards an open liberal democratic system was different from the one that he was committing the Russian people to, if Ukraine succeeded and aligned more closely with Western democracy, the Russian people would themselves demand change. That would be under threat.
“Why, by the way, do you think he miscalculated so badly? Why did he fail to foresee the heroic resistance of Ukrainians? I’m pretty proud of what the Ukrainians did.
“If we care about human development, we would give everyone the chance to express the talents that the Lord has given them
“You need a society that is open and that is tolerant to develop human potential. Urban successes are built on freedom under the law”, he added.
Johnson called for further collaboration and synergy between Nigeria and Britain in order to tackle similar challenges together and do more together.
“Now is the time. When the world is so uncertain, when some nations are disentangling, now is the time for Britain and Nigeria, two great democracies to work together. Nigeria can be a renewable superpower and still be a producer of oil and gas. We could be much more together”, he said.
Other areas for continued collaboration, according to him, include free trade, free speech and free elections.
The former British Minister also urged the government to ensure a seamless and cost-effective transportation system in the state.
He advised the state government to understudy the mass transit programme of Britain and not to go to “China or Russia.”
Johnson said what London is to Britain is what Lagos is to Africa. He, however, urged Lagos State Government to improve its transportation system, noting that spending long hours in traffic can be very frustrating.
According to him, Lagos, London and Los Angeles are the three states leading in the creative industry.
He paid tribute to the late Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA), Peace Maria Anyiam-Osigwe, for her efforts in developing the creative industry in Africa.
Other dignitaries at the event include President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the former deputy governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro; former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku; Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi and Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat.
