Diri, Kukah, others fault Nigeria’s federalism

By Samuel Oyadongha

YENAGOA—Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, person identified ethnicity and disregard for the regularisation of instrumentality arsenic cardinal impediments to the signifier of existent federalism successful Nigeria.

They spoke connected Tuesday astatine the 3rd Annual Memorial Public Lecture organized by the Niger Delta University (NDU) successful collaboration with the state’s Founding Fathers Forum successful honour of Dr. Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei, held astatine the university’s auditorium successful Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Governor Diri, represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, argued that Nigeria has not practiced effectual federalism since independency successful 1960. He noted that nationalist leaders specified arsenic Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Sir Ahmadu Bello were much acrophobic with determination and taste interests than gathering existent federalism.

He stressed that unless Nigerians hold connected a strategy of authorities that caters to each subnational units and respects the regularisation of law, ideology would stay elusive. While paying tribute to Dr. Ambaiowei and different authorities pioneers, Diri said Bayelsa’s instauration had been pivotal to its improvement milestones.

Delivering the lecture, Bishop Kukah said Nigeria indispensable code its peculiar antiauthoritarian challenges to execute inclusivity. He described ethnicity, religion, and different primordial sentiments arsenic threats to existent federalism and sources of unhealthy rivalry. He, however, urged Nigerians to stay hopeful and enactment for a amended future, stressing that proviso of infrastructure would foster unity and wellbeing.

Also speaking, president of the juncture and erstwhile Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Gabriel Toby, described Dr. Ambaiowei arsenic a number rights advocator and federation builder who played a pioneering relation successful Bayelsa’s creation. He noted that Nigeria indispensable clasp federalism alternatively than cling to the existent unitarian operation that stifles growth.

In his goodwill message, erstwhile Bayelsa Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Bayelsa Elders Council, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), said creating Bayelsa with conscionable 8 section authorities areas was not a favour but a disservice, considering its contributions to the nationalist economy.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of NDU, Prof. Allen Agih, described the lecture taxable arsenic timely and thanked Governor Diri, his deputy, and Bishop Kukah for honouring the event.

Dignitaries astatine the lecture included Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei, Member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency; Amb. Bolade Igali, Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum; Prof. Franklin Osaisai; Chief Timi Kaiser Ogoriba; and Bishop Hyacinth Ogbebo of the Bomadi Catholic Diocese, among others.

The station Diri, Kukah, others responsibility Nigeria’s federalism appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.