The words of the elders are the words of wisdom! Respected elder statesmen including Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Second Republic Vice-President; Prof. Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information have reinforced the need for true federalism and devolution of powers to states.
Ekwueme, Gana others said in Enugu on Sunday that restructuring and resource control by regions was the solution needed to end acts of uprising across the country.
Ekwueme who chaired the 17th Annual Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement, with the theme: “Nigeria, still in pursuit of true fiscal federalism,”
said the British colonialists had earlier divided the country to enable each region control and manage its resources without interference.
“The British colonial masters divided the country in such a way that every region will operate within its constitution,” he said.
Gana, the guest speaker, said the key solution to Nigeria’s problem was through true federalism and devolution of powers to states.
“True fiscal federalism is the only form of association that will allow peace and stability in the country and each region should be allowed to manage its resources the way they want it,” Gana said.
He noted that the formula for allocating revenue made the Federal Government to get richer, while the states operated like beggars.
He said: “States should be allowed to manage its resources to enable them govern their people the way they want and allocate some percentage to the Federal Government.
“Government should not be far from the people and the federating unit should be made strong to meet the needs of the people.”
Gana recommended continuous dialogue and the implementation of the resolutions of the national confab by the government as the only means the recent agitation and other national demand could be handled.
A Yoruba leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said the various acts of political instability in the country were because the constitution under which the country was governed was not good for an heterogeneous country like Nigeria.
Adebanjo said: “To put a stop at the various uprising in the country such as Niger Delta Avengers, MASSOB, IPOB, etc, our constitution needs to be changed to allow for restructuring of the country under true federalism.”
In her remarks, a Niger Delta Activist, Annkio Briggs, condemned the blasphemy killing of a woman, Bridget Agbamihe, in Kano as well as herdsmen attacks in Nimbo, Enugu State and other parts of the country.
Briggs condemned the destruction of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta, alleging that those avengers were not from Ijaw but Somalia.
Earlier, the founder of the IYM, Elliot Uko, said the event was to honour prominent Nigerians who had contributed to the growth and development of the country.
Uko said Igbo youths were committed to building a stronger Nigeria and reducing the tension in the region, adding that true federalism would help the country to grow and prosper.
Highlight of the event was presentation of awards to Gana, Adebayo, Nnamdi Kalu and Briggs for their struggle for peaceful Nigeria.
The event was attended by former governors of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Peter Obi, as well as Maria Okwor, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo and some students from tertiary institutions in the South East.
