Business
Restructuring: Lawyer Urges Repeal Of Extant Laws
As the clamour for the re-structuring of Nigerian State gathers momentum, a Port Harcourt-based Lawyer, Barr Kio Debekeme, has called for the repeal of extant laws which have hampered the smooth implementation of federalism in the country.
Debekeme, who spoke with The Tide in an interview in Port Harcourt last Friday, frowned at what he called obsolete legislations imposed on the people which perpetuate hyrotices in the country.
Such laws, he said include the Land Use Act and Petroleum Act, which were enacted by the military to dispossess the people of the Niger Delta region.
He said the people of the Niger Delta gained nothing from the above laws except the seizure of their oil resave by the Federal Government. Rather than address the issue, through the outright repeal of these denigrating laws, he said the federal government has, over the years, resorted to palliative measures through the creation of interventionist agencies, such as the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission OMPADEC and now Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He observed that the creation of these agencies has not been able to properly address the crisis of development in the Niger Delta.
Debekeme lamented the depletion of the natural environment of the Niger Delta, through reckless oil exploration activities, noting that issues of environmental protection rights, community ownership of resources should be at the front burner in the restructuring of the country.
The lawyer, who is also a proponent of fiscal federalism, said the clamour for restructuring should go beyond sloganeering but address issues of imbalances in the federal allocation formular which places the burden of running the country on the Niger Delta.
He said Nigeria can only be a true democratic state when its structural footing is based on social justice, equity and fair play.
The Port Harcourt-based lawyer pointed out that Nigeria was already paying for its monolithic economic posture, as the decline in international oil price was an ominous sign for the country to explore the potentials of the non-oil sector, such as agriculture, tourism and information and commination technology.
He further advised the federal government to put in place policy framework to attract foreign investment to the country and called for devolution of powers to enhance popular participation in the affairs of governance.
Debekeme also identified bad leadership as the bane of Nigeria’s development and advocated stronger anti-corruption war.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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