Amaechi, Akinyemi Hail Ekwueme At 80 …As Fiscal Federalism, Nat.Confab Top Discourse

Former Minister of External Affairs Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi says a national conference to dialogue on Nigeria’s future is pertinent in view of challenges currently rocking the country.

Prof. Akinyemi made his position public  yesterday while speaking at a special lecture to commemorate the 80th birthday of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme in Port Harcourt.

Speaking on the topic,’’ Strengthening the Foundation of Peace and Stability, ‘’ the professor of International Affairs and Diplomacy also said the present federal system being practised in the country needs dire restructuring.

He believed that,’’ Nigerian federalism has been driven by the agitation for identity recognition by nationality groups ‘’.

Akinyemi  who served as external Affairs Minister during the regime of military president, Ibrahim Babangida re-echoed Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s position earlier in the church thanksgiving service, where he recommended that some powers should be given to the federating states in areas concerning fiscal federalism, state police and equal representation.

The former minister who flayed the present federal structure opined that its not working hence the rising agitation among the different nationalities.

He asserted,’’…national groups continue to agitate for states of their own even though embedded in each new state will be minorities that will agitate for new states of their own. Does this mean that endless creation of states is the only way to ensure peace, equity and stability in Nigeria? The answer is no’’.

Prof. Akinyemi called for a restructuring based on equity,’’ Just as Dr. Ekwueme came up with ingenious idea of zonal federalism, we must come up with ingenious new ideas to address our own realities. We cannot have state for each national group in Nigeria,’’ he said.

Rather than creating more states to satisfy regional demands, Akinyemi suggested the need to engender trust based on what he called the ‘principle of reciprocity and mutual respect’ where all ethnic groups will have a sense of belonging in the polity.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has extolled former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekuweme for being a detribalised and passionate leader for a better Nigeria.

Amaechi made the commendation at the 80th birthday thanksgiving service organised by Ekwueme’s Committee of Friends in collaboration with state government yesterday at St Paul’s Cathedral Diobu in Port Harcourt.

The governor said the Second Republic number two citizen has demonstrated great zeal towards having a better Nigeria, and promised to follow in his steps.

The Chairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum noted that Ekwueme’s lifestyle is a challenge for the younger politicians like him, saying” be rest assured that some of us who look up to you after looking to God, will continue the struggle as you are still struggling for, and see whether there will be a better Nigeria. And I pray that there will be a better Nigeria’’, he added.

He continued,’’ the best birthday gift we have for you is to reassure you that we will support you in this struggle’’.

While congratulating him for the milestone of clocking 80 years, Amaechi wished the former Vice President well in the future.

Responding, Dr. Ekwueme expressed elation for the honour accorded him.

He expressed delight that so much honour was coming from all parts of the country, adding that’’ as I told everybody I’am not in a hurry and I think every one will have a memory of me to celebrate’’.

The former vice president thanked the government and people of the state for the honour done him, and prayed for more years ahead.

Earlier in his sermon, Bishop of Niger Delta North Province, Rt Rev. Ignatius Kattey had said the birthday marks the beginning of a new era in the life of Dr. Ekwueme and prayed God to continue to use him as an instrument of change.

The cleric reminded the celebrant of the need to be grateful to God at every stage of life, stressing that,’’at every stage of our life, God gives us a task to accomplish ‘’.

Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has sued for better federalism through constitutional amendment.

He made his mind public while speaking at the thanksgiving service in honour of Dr. Alex Ekwueme in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Amaechi maintained that Nigerians should use the current constitutional amendment exercise to seek for better polity.

‘’ It is important that we get the unity of the country in a proper way that the country will move forward and I will join in that ‘’, he observed.

Said he,’’as usual, Nigerians have started dealing with cosmetics and not the reality…not the reality of power devolution, not the reality of the structure of the country, but the reality of how  much is shared and who is sharing what.’’

He maintained that it is pertinent to bring into proper perspective issues addressing the unity of the country, so the country can move forward.