...As the Governor Calls for National Discuss To Strengthen True Federalism
The leadership of the pro-igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has applauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun for being focused and determined to both physical and human developments regardless of the current economic downturn.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural
group in the southwest, Nigeria also commended the state government for taking the lead among its peers in prioritizing empowerment in governance.
The President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Southwest, Chief Nathaniel Uzomah who described Governor Aregbesola as a democratic performer, stated this during the routine visit to the Governor, at State Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.
Chief Uzomah said the visit was regarded sacrosanct in recognition and appreciation of Governor Aregbesola's concerted efforts at repositioning the state, southwest and Nigeria at large.
The leader of the group who identified the continued peace reigning in the state as a true reflection of the state commitment at championing the welfare of the teeming masses with the adequate protection of lives and properties of the residents.
Chief Uzomah who attributed some of the successes recorded by the members of the group in the Aregbesola's administration to what he regarded as marvelous, amazing and commendable, said the current government had already written its name on the platter of gold through its unprecedented transformations.
The Southwest President of the group who lamented over the state of the nation's economy, however called on the federal government to review the revenue allocation to the state.
Chief Uzomah who described the federating states as the pillar of the nation, pointed out that the country has gotten to stage where amendment needs to be done on the revenue sharing formula so as to give room for better increment in the revenue allocation to the states.
He stressed further that much needed to be done by the federal government in giving the genuine autonomy to the states and local governments, nothing that the idea would in no doubt bring about the real development being aspired for by all.
Chief Uzomah described the inability of some states to pay backlog of workers' salary arrears as a product of palpable corruption characterized with past administrations.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Southwest president commended President Muhammadu Buhari for relentlessly fighting corruption, insecurity, kidnapping and among other vices, nothing that the strides made within the short time of his leadership would be forever remembered.
According to him, "as part of our routine visit to Mr. Governor, we are here to commend our Governor for turning around the socioeconomic fortunes of the state.
"We also want to use this avenue through Mr. Governor to convey our heartfelt appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari on his numerous achievements since assumption of office.
"Sincerely, the outstanding leadership quality of Mr. President in tackling corruption, fighting insurgency and other mind-bothering vices in Nigeria is not only commendable but also worthy of emulation as we have never as a nation witnessed such magnanimous commitment to national development as being championed by the present administration.
"We will continue to support his government as long as it remains focused to the plights of the masses.
"In the same vein, we must just have to throw our weights behind the Osun state government led by Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his good works in all sectors especially on youths empowerment and general economic development.
"Based on this, the group (Ohazaene Ndigbo) firmly beliefs that with the spate of developments in Osun, if the state is opportune to have more revenue allocation, then, the development trends would be highly magnificent.
"We therefore call on Mr. President to wade into this and do the needful at ensuring quick recovery of the states' economic losses.
"We want the presidency to review the revenue allocation to the states by ensuring that the states were properly funded especially at a time majority of our states were unable to pay the workforce.
Speaking on the need to strengthen the national unity, peace and security of the Nigeria regardless of sociopolitical, cultural, economic and religious affiliations, Chief Uzomah said the unity of Nigeria can never be negotiable.
He said all hands must be on deck to ensure the continual existence of Nigeria irrespective of personal interests and aspirations.
Chief Uzomah who called for true federalism however charged the leadership of the nation, to speed up moves and map out strategy that would further foster peaceful co-existence between and among citizenry.
According to him, "We came here today because we are more of yoruba than Igbo, we stay in the west where it is universally adjudged to be the most peaceful region in Nigeria today.
"As a matter of fact, our presence in the West is not accidental but a clarion call to the source as Igbos believe strongly that they and yoruba shared common ancestral synonyms.
"Though so many things are to be addressed especially on the need to bring people together as the nation is facing toughest time in history.
"Take for instance, several regions in Nigeria are facing socioeconomic, ethnical and cultural unrest. The North is facing with security challenges, South-South with deadly violence, civil unrest and Southeast kidnapping, incessant war and all that.
"The only region that is saved in Nigeria now is Southwest and we are in the position since we are not facing any challenge here to talk on behalf of the people facing these plethora of challenges.
Chief Uzomah who called for national economic prosperity, however said dialogue remains the only mechanism to rebuild the nation and as well avert some of her turbulent predicament.
"What we are calling for is to ensure that government is propelled to ensure that issues that herald these problems are thoroughly addressed in the interest of all and for the betterment of Nigerians.
"Nigeria can get but no solution without coming together. We can only strengthen our coexistence in unity, peace, understanding, love and collective focus to achieve common goal. We must come together for better dialogue on the need to move the nation further.
"We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to call for a roundtable meeting through which issues bothering on the sustainability of the corporate entity of Nigeria are comprehensively discussed.
"The plights of every region must be nationally discussed while solutions would as a matter of urgency be put in place", he added.
In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who lamented over the state of the nation socioeconomic and political disintegration, however called for true restructuring of Nigeria federation.
Aregbesola also called for better understanding, collaboration, cooperation and integration between and among Nigerians.
Governor Aregbesola who described Nigeria as the only country in Africa capable of championing the cause of the black race, said if Nigeria disintegrate, the unity of Africa is in shambles.
The state helmsman attributed the complexity and multiplicity of culture, language, religion and attitude made up an entity called Nigeria to what he regarded as a pride, said the time has come for Nigerians to do away with their differences and strengthen unity in their diversity.
He condemned in its entirety the call for disintegration, saying what Nigeria needs at the moment is beyond secession.
He said, "It is unfortunate that we have allowed little things to create gap between us and this is a task for all of us to strive to reunite.
"We need Nigeria more than Nigeria needs us. It is the size of our country and capacity of our diversity that gives us the pride and strength that we have.
"There is no pride in being small and as a matter of fact, we need to be more proactive in strengthening the unity in our diversity.
"In supporting a call on restructuring of our federation, there is no misnomer in a call to give the component units full extension of their autonomy so as to enhance their socioeconomic, political and cultural tendencies.
"We must struggle to ensure that the entity called Nigeria is maintained while our federation is strengthened.
Governor Aregbesola called for a national discuss where issues bothered on national development would be deliberated, saying the time has come for Nigerians to jettison their differences and embrace the call for true restructuring of Nigeria federation.
According to him, "For us to take the advantage of the complexity of Nigeria, one thing that is cleared, we must seek to understand one another so as for us to continuously live together.
"We need true federalism that would foster more cordiality, affinity and intimacy among the Nigerian people.
"We must just have to take the advantage of our complexity, progenuiety and multiplicity of culture, language, religion and attitude to strengthen unity and peace.
Governor Aregbesola also said the only way to move the nation forward was to form a united front that would truly demonstrate Nigeria as a united entity in the comity of nations.
The Governor noted that the only way to overcome palpable differences is to foster peaceful coexistence, growth, development and progress of the nation.
He said, "We must seek to understand one another. It is only through this that things will fall in place".
The Governor who recalled that the relationship between Yoruba and Igbo is aged long, said in spite the fact that the nation has a traumatic civil war in the late 60s to early 70s, Yorubaland remained the asylum and refugee for Igbos, stressing that it was only the region where there was no record of abandoned property.
He said it is on record that, the Igbos who chose not to leave the West when the call for the movement of Igbos to the East was made, were protected by Yorubas from being harmed.
According to him, "The meaning of this is that, Yorubas are matured minded people just as our hospitality seconds to none.
"Since after the war, the Igbos have not found any accommodation elsewhere better than Yorubaland.
"For instance I was a commissioner for 8years in Lagos and throughout this period, Igbos were considered in government as they were given opportunities.
"We were able to allow Igbos in the cabinet of Lagos and several other places in Yorubaland and as a matter of fact, the spokesperson of our party in Lagos is an Igbo man.
"Since I got here, I have appointed chief Amadi, he may not be very active in our activities, but is an Igbo man and for our second term in office, we have not reconstituted our cabinet.
Governor Aregbesola who expressed delight over the phenomenal progress that has come to different places of the state especially to Igbos' businesses since inception of office, said Igbo business men and women in the state are progressing successfully.
"I am proud to have successful Igbo in our state and I am proud to have you on this courtesy call.
"Development is blind and development is not ethnic based especially human development, and since we know that your people are hardworking, focused and determined, it is not doubtful, that they take maximum advantage of the opened opportunities.
"Our programmes, policies and activities are indeed empowering the Igbos", he added.
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