.Ndigbo in Niger insist on true federalism
The Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubarkar Sani Bello, has added his voice to that of other Nigerians calling for the country’s restructuring.
He advocated restructuring that would include devolution of powers from the central to other tiers of governments as the only way to end sectarian agitations.
He also carpeted the central government for coming up with policies and forcing them down to the states and councils without considering other variables.
The governor made the declaration at a one-day ‘‘Peace and Confidence Building Dialogue’’, organized by the Igbo Community Association (ICA) in conjunction with the office of the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the Governor on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as part of the Nigeria’s 57th year anniversary celebration in Niger State.
Through the Secretary to State Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Isah Ladan, the governor, however, said that the state would soon make details of its position on current developments in Nigeria known.
Bello said, “Nigeria as the only most populous black nation in the world has existed for 57 years now notwithstanding the diversity in tribes and tongue, we in Niger State strongly support restructuring that would guarantee fairness, equity and justice for all and not disintegration”.
Niger State has 10 per cent of Nigeria’s entire land mass, part of which it conceded for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, hosting the country’s three major hydro-power generating dams; Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro but nothing to show for it compared to the level of sacrifices made, the governor said.
The governor also argued that with devolution of powers, Niger State which also has natural endowments such as mineral resources and oil blocks at three different locations in the state will have better deal.
The President, Igbo Community Association in Niger State, Nze Jezie Nzomiwu, had said that the interface with host communities was to put records straight that Ndigbo were not in support of separatist agitations by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Nzomiwu however emphasized the need for the federal government to accord equal rights to every Nigerian citizen in the interest of peace, fairness and justice.
.Source: nigerianewsflight.com