Confab: Why Nigeria stagnates, by Igbo leaders
Igbo leaders yesterday gave reasons why Nigeria has continued to
stagnate both politically and economically, saying that ‘’no one builds a
super structure on a faulty’’foundation.
According to them, “As a
nation with enormous natural and human resources, Nigeria has refused
to grow in line with the aspirations of her founding fathers.
Nigeria not working
’’Nigeria
is not working and cannot work because it now exists on a faulty
foundation. The fundamental problem is structural. It is therefore time
to review and fine-tune the bonds binding us as a nation, in preparation
for the challenges of a new global order,” Ohanaeze stated.
The
people spoke when the National Dialogue Advisory Committee visited the
South East geopolitical zone in Enugu, noting that as a matter of
urgency the committee should send an executive bill to the National
Assembly to ensure the legality and integrity of the proposed national
dialogue.
Referendum
Leaders from the zone also demanded
that the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a national
referendum to enable it become the constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria without any alteration.
Insist on equal representation
They also insisted on equal representation of the six geopolitical
zones by 60 delegates each. The position of the zone was articulated in a
memorandum presented by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to the committee.
The
memorandum was signed by President General of the association, Chief
Gary Igariwey, Secretary General, Dr Joe Nwaorgu, Ezeuzu Awka, Obi
Gibson Nwosu, former Senate President, former Senate President, Ken
Nnamani, former governors, Okwesilieze Nwodo and Sam Egwu; Prof Ukwu I.
Ukwu, Chief Mbazulike Amechi and Ambassador L.O.C. Agubuzo.
Among
the issues Ohanaeze listed for discussion at the conference include
political structure of the country, forms of government, power of the
tiers of government/devolution, revenue and fiscal federalism,
derivation and distribution.
On citizenship
Others are
citizenship rights, structure of the Armed Forces and other security
agencies to improve the security of life and property ownership by
Nigerians, judicature, population,census, religion and secularism as
well as place of traditional rulers and institutions.
They then
implored the committee to rise to the challenges of true patriotism by
ensuring that the recommendations of the conference would lead to the
realization of the dreams of the founding fathers of the country.
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