Ozekhome agitates for true federalsim
Chief Mike Ozekhome has raised concern over the spate of violence in Nigeria insisting that true federalism was the solution to the country’s problem.
The prominent lawyer spoke during the Authority Newspapers Awards for Excellence and Good Governance i2016 which took place at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
He delivered a lecture on “True Federalism” describing it as a system of government that allows people to “live within their comfort zone respecting others while being respected in turn with a central government and component units. “
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He said each part of the country is important and should be allowed to grow at its own pace.
: “Nigeria is made of about 390 ethnic groups and not just three. If you give undue prominence to the Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba ethnicities; neglecting the other ethnic groups, you will continue to experience insurgency and agitation for self-determination.
“We need to give voice to the voiceless, let people express themselves. Whilst not advocating for the break-up of Nigeria, we must allow the minorities to have their say and let the majority have their way through dialogue.”
Ozekhome said Nigeria was still in search of true nationhood noting that revenue generation and allocation was still faulty.
“There’s great injustices in the land that’s why in spite of the constitutional development that commenced with the 1922 Clifford constitution to the on-going proposed ammendment, we are still in search of true nationhood.”
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He warned that “if government does not make life comfortable for the people, the people will make life uncomfortable for the government.”
“To avoid IPOB, MASSOB, Niger-Delta Militants, Shiite Muslims, Agatu and Odi massacres, we need to practice true federalism where each region is allowed to develop according to its pace, nuances, and idiosyncrasies. Anything short of that, we are only postponing doomsday.”
Source: Legit.ng
