SAN FRANCISCO, July 13, (THEWILL) – A right group, the Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged (CENTREP), has blamed the deadlock at the National Conference over the Consensus Committee’s proposal on the decade-long deep rooted animosity, suspicion, distrust and mistrust between the people of the North and South of Nigeria which, according to the group, has hindered growth, stability, unity and nation building.
Reacting to the five percent derivation increase to the Niger Delta as well as the five percent to the North as a result of Boko Haram insurgency, the group in a statement made available to THEWILL, said there is urgent need “for us as a nation to break away from our primordial past so that our country can attain true nationhood where unity, growth, stability, justice, nation building are the hallmarks.”
In the statement signed by its Executive Director, Oghenejabor Ikimi, the group said: “The panacea to true nationhood lies in resource control, true federalism and regional autonomy, and until we have the above structure of government we can as well bid farewell to peace, unity and stability.
“For instance the proposed 18 percent derivation for oil producing States in the Niger Delta Region by delegates at the National Conference would continue to heighten discontent in the region as same would be an added insult to a people who are craving for resource control and true federalism.
“The above proposal would not only be unacceptable but a slap to the average Niger Deltan who continue to see other ethnic nationalities especially the North as appropriating and squandering the proceeds of their God given wealth.
“Also the proposed insurgency fund of five percent by delegates for the North would encourage insurgency nationwide, hence the urgent need to jettison the idea totally.”
The group also added: “We are however not oblivious of the fact that more confusion and chaos awaits the nation in the event that the recommendations of the National Conference are sent to the National Assembly for ratification by the Presidency.
“Hence for the umpteen time, we renew our call for a true federal structure of government with six autonomous region, while each region controls its resources as opposed to the present fraudulent and corrosive federal structure of government we as a nation are presently operating where nothing except corruption works.”
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