Gwegwe faults APC report on restructuring .Opts for 2014 Confab Implementation
As the need to
restructure Nigeria before the 2019 general elections has continued to dominate
the political space of late, His Highness Okpoebi Righteous Gwegwe, Ogiligba I
of Atissa Kingdom in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa state has faulted
the All Progressives Congress (APC) restructuring of Nigeria report on merger
of states.
His Highness Okpoebi Righteous Gwegwe |
Chief Gwegwe who was also the
gubernatorial flagbearer of the defunct National Democratic Party (NDP) in the
2007, 2008 and 2012 governorship election in the state made the assertion in an
exclusive interview with Global Overseer reporter in Yenagoa.
He described the APC report as
sectional adding that the inputs of the various ethnic nationalities that
constituted Nigeria were not represented in the committee’s report set up by
the party.
The Ogiligba I of Atissa Kingdom averred
emphatically expressing fear that the recommendation made by APC on merger of
states if implement would may cause anarchy in the polity.
Chief Gwegwe who
endorsed restructuring of the country before the 2019 general elections, called
on the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Executive Council and the
National Assembly to institute the “Doctrine of Necessity” and implement the
well accepted 2014 National Conference recommendations in order to move the
nation forward.
Describing the 2014
Confab recommendations as the key to Nigeria’s progress, Gwegwe recalled that the
conference well packaged by a 13 member. Presidential Advisory Committee on
National Dialogue headed by Senator Femi Okurounmu, and attended by 492
citizens selected from across the various strata of the country is most
acceptable.
He further pointed out
that the confab which was inaugurated on March 17, 2014 and headed by a former
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Idris Kutigi and lasted for four months;
the draft report was unanimously approved by the delegates who attended the
conference.
According to him
restructuring Nigeria apart from bringing the government closer to the door
steps of the people, would end the worrisome political tension and ethnic
acrimony currently embattling the country’s political space owing to contentious
over constitutional structure of Nigeria.
He added that all
agitations for self-determination and complains over marginalization by some
sections of the country, would extinct and there would be stability, peace and
ethnic co-existence to put the country in fast lane of development to meet the
yearnings and the aspirations of Nigerians.
The Ogiligba of Atissa
Kingdom lamented that the country was still operating unitary system of
government instead of fiscal and true federalism.
He blamed the current
hardship facing Nigerians and the numerous socio-economic and political
challenges bedeviling the nation since return to democratic rule as a result of
continued operation of unitary system of government in the country.
The Ogiligba I of
Atissa Kingdom insisted that operation of true and fiscal federalism is the
solution to the myriad of problems affecting the country.
He warned that until
the country is restructured the masses would continue to experience unbearable
suffering, misery, squalor, abject poverty and under-development.
Gwegwe advised the
electorates to sum money politics this time around; and warning them not to
allow the past mistakes they have perpetrated during the last elections to
repeat itself.
“I think the present
government now, everybody both big and small, men and women are complaining
bitterly over the current hardship in the country. So, I believe that the
people that are going to come on board on May 29, 2019 would take precaution or
learn on what is happening now.
And I’m going to advise
the masses that during the time of the election; that money they used to
enticing them to vote for them and make the electorates to lose and suffer for
a period of 4 years they should not accept it again.
That debarred them not
to get anything from any government. Therefore, they should eschew money
politics during the forthcoming elections and vote candidates of their choice
in order to make the country better and become the hub of progress.
So, that money that we
are receiving before voting, I think everybody should learn from what is
happening currently in the country. We should henceforth vote for the person in
your mind devoid of money influence. Vote for the candidate that you feel can
deliver your constituency, the Local Government Area, your Senatorial District,
the state and the country. so that these problems suffering Nigerians could be
solved once and for all.,” he said.
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