The Urhobo Nation, one of the major oil and gas producing ethnic groups in Nigeria has joined its voice with several other groups in virtually all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria calling for a restructuring of the country.
Lamenting how the Urhobos have being shortchanged on all fronts in the present Nigerian project, the President of the Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, Olorogun Moses Taiga, in a press statement he personally signed on behalf of his people, seeks a reversal to the 1960 Constitution where each region controlled its resources and contributed to the centre.
Taiga said the whole idea and practice of states of the Federation converging in Abuja – or of LGAs, assembling at state capitals – every month to receive allocations, is appalling, stressing that such wretched dependency on central allocations kills industry and initiative.
The statement reads, “For some time now, there have been discordant voices on the way forward for Nigeria. In these circumstances, it is important that major stake holders in the Nigerian nation-building project should speak out in ways that will calm the current inflamed political situation while addressing Nigeria’s long-standing problems that do give rise to these excesses.
It is in that patriotic context that the UPU – representing the Urhobo people, the largest ethnic nationality in the Western Niger Delta and the fourth largest in the Nigerian Federation – wishes to state as follows:
“The Urhobo Nation believes in one Nigeria. We believe in a Nigeria built on fairness, equity and justice principles which incidentally have guided the Urhobos in their interactions long before the entity called Nigeria can be.
“We believe in true federalism. In line with the 16-point resolution of the Southern Leaders Forum, The UPU wants a reversal to the 1960 Constitution where each region controlled its resources and contributed to the centre. The whole idea and practice of states of the Federation converging in Abuja – or of LGAs assembling at state capitals – every month to receive allocations, without which they cannot operate, is appalling. Such wretched dependency on central allocations kills industry and initiative.
“Nigeria is also an amalgamation of ethnic nationalities where the Constitution, however, guarantees all citizens freedom of association. We have grown to be interdependent over the years as Nigerians move outside their lands of birth to other communities within the country to seek a gainful livelihood. We implore those who have resettled in other communities. Whether they are Igbo merchants or Fulani cattle herdsmen or any other class of workers, it is important that violence is eschewed in their relations with their host communities. The UPU, however, deplores the quit notice given by some groups for citizens of other ethnic groups to vacate their territory. The Constitution gives no ethnic group such powers.
“Ultimately, peace and inter-ethnic harmony will only flow from good governance, especially at the federal level, in Nigeria. The practice of crowding out certain ethnic nationalities from ministerial appointments and other political official office violates the doctrine of ”federal character” that is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. it is one of the factors fueling ethnic and secessionist agitations, our union should be based on merit, fairness, justice and equity.
“Urhobo progress Union urges political leaders to summon the courage to restructure this country in a manner that will strengthen the state of the federation to raise revenues, including taxes, and to independently manage their own resources. The ongoing amendment of the constitution is not far reaching enough to give us the true federalism we yearn for. Urhobo sons and daughter- and indeed all federal lawmakers- must do a lot more to match the expectations of their people who put them there.
“Apart from true federalism, which will bring more development to the federating units, improve the lives of our people and consequently reduce crime, the UPU believes our internal security apparatus, especially the police, should be reorganised to bring it closer to the grassroots. Criminal elements live in the midst of people and it is easier for the locals to track them down. Community policing should evolve to a major institution to help combat crime effectively, while we work out modalities to set up police.
“Urhobo progress union makes this proposal in the full hope that a revamped federal system, which produces a new dynamism of economic growth, will have a positive outcome of providing ample room for Nigerian ethnic nationalities to interact without conflicts that have led to current crisis. The UPU will continue to work closely with the southern Leaders Forum to forge a united front.”