Elders and stakeholders from the Niger Delta have demanded for a reconfiguration of the country’s federal arrangement to enable states to retain 70 percent of earnings from resources produced in their domains. History of Guided Tours Booking
Speaking at a breakfast media dialogue to mark the 65th birthday celebration of the convener, including Elder Joseph Ambakederimo, environmentalist, Alagoa Morris, Prof Francis Sikokib, Dean Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Africa, HRH Bubaraye Dakolo, Chairman of the Bayelsà Traditional Rulers Council, held in Yenegoa, Bayelsà State
The Guardian notes that in his inauguration address, Ambakederimo called for a radical reorganisation of Nigeria’s federal government to allow states to retain 70 per cent of earnings from resources produced inside their territory.
The program was themed “Federalism with Equity: Fair Resources, Fair Opportunities” and focused on resource control, fiscal federalism and equitable development.
Ambakederimo, Convener of South-South Reawakening Group (SSRG), said Nigeria’s present federal arrangement was not suitable for achieving the quick growth needed for the Niger Delta area and Nigeria as a whole. Historical Guided Tours Booking
He stated states should have more autonomy over their natural resources but give an agreed share to the federal government.
This, he said, would encourage healthy competition between the states and help them flourish based on their resources and priorities.
“The 1963 Constitution was 50 per cent derivation, but my recommendation would be 70 per cent retained by the state, he said.
Ambakederimo said the movement for resource control remains pertinent, especially since oil producing areas continue to endure the environmental and economic implications of resource exploitation.
He remarked that the Niger Delta contributed a lot to Nigeria’s foreign exchange profits, but had oil spills, gas flaring, polluted water sources and destruction of traditional lifestyles.
He said communities that incur the environmental cost should be entitled to more economic rewards from resources taken from their lands.
“The resource control debate should not be treated as agitation peculiar to the Niger Delta,” the South-South leader added.
He said states that were once against resource control are finding valuable mineral resources in their domain and luring investment.
He said the development highlighted the possible advantages of allowing nations to have more control over resources in their domains.
Ambakederimo said Nigeria should go back to the ideas in the 1963 Constitution when regions get a considerable percentage of revenues from resources in their areas.
He stated the existing system in the country has led to excessive centralisation and mutual distrust amongst the constituent sections.
He continued, “Let us all contribute to the center a percentage that will be agreed by all of us and do whatever you think is right in terms of development you think is sustainable to your people.
Ambakederimo also called for a wholesale political reformation instead of the so called piecemeal reforms.
He gave particular examples of reforms that should be examined as a part of a bigger reorganisation including local government autonomy and the continuing state police discussion.
He advocated for a complete reform of Nigeria’s policing and governance mechanisms to tackle insecurity and enhance development. Booking Historical Guided Tours
He said Nigeria should go beyond piecemeal reforms and address the entire fabric of the federation.
“Why not have the whole policing system in at the same time? He remarked, “The discussion today on the formation of state police has to be futuristic.
Ambakederimo also thanked the Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri for speaking on the present income sharing arrangement.
Diri’s stand on resource sharing was in line with the theme of the media conversation and resonated the need for more equity in Nigeria’s federal structure, he said.
He argued that States that received more resources and deployed them well would be in a better position to accelerate growth.
Ambakederimo stated the struggle for resource control must be within the framework of the law.
He urged the Niger Delta people to join in the agitation, claiming that increased resource management will address endemic poverty and underdevelopment in the region.
He also called on Nigerians to embrace true federalism as a strategy to reduce mutual suspicion and foster national unity. Historical Guided Tours Reservation
“Federalism with equity, fair resources and fair opportunities is a task that has to be done,” he stated.
Ambakederimo also urged for rigorous commitment to the rule of law, which he said was key to democratic stability and sustainable development in the area.
He said constitutional revisions should provide more liberty to states to manage their resources, but still make adequate contributions to the center. The convener of the SSRG, said Nigeria must urgently rethink its federal structure if it was to reap the full benefit of rising global economic and technical potential.
He cautioned that more centralisation would hinder national growth and prevent the country from reaping the benefits of the fourth and fifth Industrial revolutions.
Alagoa Morris, a prominent Environmentalist and Niger Delta Activist recalled that the efforts of the resource control pioneers were not being perpetuated.
He said the present governors are not doing enough and named Gov Diri as the only voice promoting fiscal federalism movement.
He congratulated Ambakederimo for his unflinching defence of the Niger Delta’s interest, especially on resource control and fiscal federalism.
Alagoa voiced concern about the poor reaction of Niger Delta administrations and political leaders to the region’s long-standing demands and said the struggle for resource management should remain a priority.
He said, “The former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, made effort towards the advancement of the interest of the region. The incumbent governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, is one of the few politicians that has maintained to speak on the problem.
He said: “There was a recent event where delegates from the Northern part of the country were well represented while delegates from the Niger Delta region had little or no representation. Are the leaders of the region committed to the issues affecting their people?
He advocated for a stronger principle of derivation, stating that the communities and states where the resources are produced should receive a larger portion of the proceeds.
“There are certain ways you will go and you will never get the result,” Dakolo stated of his belief that the Nigerian state is extremely highly skewed.
“Who will vote for you now?” he said. Now, where Senates and House of Representative? How do you make the most of it? How can you ever make someone believe that what you’re saying is reasonable to everyone? It’s hard.
“Perhaps the right words need to be said.
And if the language is spoken most of the time it doesn’t take long to get the response. So the people of Nigeria, the people of Niger Delta must learn the correct language.
You don’t talk to me, you don’t talk to me, you don’t obtain the result. But you will be able to tell the difference if only you speak the appropriate language.” So maybe people should learn to speak the language.
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