Diete-Spiff, Others Seek Restructuring As Stakeholders Root For Regions

Former Military Governor of Rivers State, and Amayanabo of Town Brass, HRM Alfred Diete-Spiff, among other stakeholders and groups in the Niger Delta, have canvassed for restructuring and constitutional reforms in the country.

Rising from a two-day symposium organised by the Pan Niger Forum (PANDEF) in collaboration with The Rebirth Group at the weekend, the stakeholders submitted that constitutional reforms remain key to create an equitable and stable polity.

Diette-Spiff who was the royal father of the day, averred that the current constitution is unwieldy and that power needs to be decentralized.

He said, “In a situation where the people do not enjoy their resources and that government still feels far and away, there is need to reform the structure to touch the grassroots.”

On her part, Niger Delta activist and development advocate, Ann Kio Briggs, said the struggle by the Niger Delta has evolved to include women in governance.

Kio-Briggs asserted that women are tools of development and should be included in every strata, so as to contribute their quota.

She described the 1999 Constitution as amended as the worst constitution in the history of the country, saying ” it should be discarded and we want a new one before we begin to talk of 2027.”

The activist further urged that, “for us in the Niger  Delta, we need restructuring of powers to the states,” as she carpeted the local government councils for failing to utilize funds to transform their areas.

Speaking on the topic: “Generating Fresh Vision on Federalism in Nigeria – The Position of South South Nigeria on Economic and Political Restructuring,” a university don, Prof. Ambily Etekpe, said the current constitution confers enormous powers on the centre.

With the Federal Government having 68 percent of the exclusive powers, the university don recommended that it be reduced to about 20 percent.

Etekpe argued that reducing power at the centre will be easy to attract development at the state and local levels.

He posited that the federating units should be two – federal and states, adding that the Land Use Decree should also be expunged to allow the people to utilize their resources themselves.