Chief Osita Okechukwu, who presented made the call in Enugu while presenting the state chapter’s documented inputs to the APC Committee on True Federalism Public Consultation in South-East zone, held in Enugu on Monday, said there was a need for the Southeast zone to have equal states to be at par with other regions as proposed in the last National Constitutional Conference in Abuja.
The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria ( VON) also said, “Enugu State Chapter of the APC are in the league of those who agree that the federal government is over centralized, hence True Federalism is eminently provided in the manifesto of our great party.
On those who think APC is opposed to restructuring, Okechusu noted, “Furthermore, we sincerely do not think that this public hearing will hold if APC is opposed to restructuring. Therefore, it is a matter of how, when, and which phase, we deploy the Art of Compromise to cross over the ubiquitous national question. This is the fault line which the champions of today’s restructuring were unable to surmount in their 16 years in power.
According to him, “the grand irony, if not the grand conspiracy that the new champions and agitators for restructuring are the same members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their associates who ruled Nigeria for 16 years of our 4th republic. The painful irony is that they never devolved any power, never created more states, and more local government councils for the disadvantaged zones like the South East.
He further noted, “The worst is that they did not only dislocate our economic substructure, but created the largest number of poor people in Africa and conversely the richest man in Africa. They squandered over $16 billion meant for the provision of electricity, which could have lifted millions out of poverty.
“The outcome of PDP’s plan-less-ness and squander-mania is that our fault lines were widened, youths in general without employment, and glaring in our face today, is scant hope for the future of the greatest number of Nigerians.
“What must be done – the truth of the matter is that we must not be distracted by the PDP and their vile propaganda, as they are deliberately weaving duplicity into statecraft, by yelling restructuring, with 2019 general elections as their target, he added.
He, however, said that the chapter was supporting the current sub-structure restructuring to revamp the economy as well as the strategic borrowing to reposition the infrastructure and diversification of the economy by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
“However, we are urging that the modernization of rail gauge should be done in the Enugu-Port Harcourt rail also, while there is the need for revamping Enugu coal mine, which should serve as a critical asset to the nation,’’ he said.
The APC Chieftain said that the chapter was in support of local government autonomy both in administration and finance; while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be conducting council elections henceforth ensure true transparency.
“We subscribe to state police in order to effectively deal with local issues and peculiarities, which might only be handled by policemen and women that understand the local locations very well, ‘’ he said.
The APC stalwart maintained that the chapter support the existing presidential system with some modification; while there should be rotation of power and political offices at all levels of governance to given everybody and sections a sense of belonging.
He urged the South-easterners to be patient and show restrain as the APC-led government was addressing the problem facing the zone one after another.
“As we support the rotation of power, it is clear that when President Buhari finishes his eight years, the power will definitely shift to the Southern part of the country. And as we know, the South-West and South-South had already taken their turns in the presidency.
“So, it is clear that the South-East will have a shot and leverage to produce the next president after President Buhari had rooted out corruption within his eight years productive administration,’’ he said.
He, therefore urged President Bahuri to see a need to give more appointments to party’s members in the Southeast especially people that had worked hard to grow the party all these years.
Some of the prominent Speakers at the occasion were Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, ex-Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Enugu, Ex-Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State.
Both Elechi and Nnamani urged President Buhari to look into the reports of the past National Conferences with a view to making use of vital points that will move the nation forward.
The APC Committee on True Federalism in the Consultation was led by the former Governor of Edo State, Prof Oserhieme Osubor.
Other members of the committee were Senator Chris Nwankwor, Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achoba and Yitola Abiola.
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