Nigeria at 64: INC, PANDEF calls for restructuring

As Nigeria celebrates its 64th Independent anniversary, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said there is nothing much to celebrate.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of INC,  Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, Nigeria has derailed from the right track and pointed out that there is an urgent need to get back on track Nigeria else, the country will continue to perform poorly, and the economy will continue to suffer.

On his part, the National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Dr. Ken Robinson, queried if there is any reason to congratulate Nigerians amidst the present harsh economic strains on the populace and insecurity.

He however, answered in the affirmative, by saying yes, especially the gift of life but stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs to demonstrate greater efforts and assure Nigerians of his administration’s sincere commitment to improving the well-being and security of all Nigerians, regardless of their religion, or ethnicity.

He said, “Unfortunately, at 64, Nigeria is not quite a nation; the country’s journey to nationhood and socio-economic development has been greatly impaired and constrained by structural and social defects.

“Besides the huge population, Nigeria cannot show any other thing that demonstrates us as giants of Africa.

“No sector is doing pretty well. Be it the economy, sports, education, health etc.”

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He said, the 1966 military coup d’etat was the point of derailment,  where a perfect constitution that was running smoothly was sacked and a rude, demonic military document was imposed.

“A parliamentary system which favoured all the regions was aborted.  A system where the regions had control of all their resources.

“Another factor that has kept Nigeria where it remains even after 64 years of independence is corruption and bad leadership.”

Speaking further,  Robinson said, “Nigerians are not united by language, religion, culture, or a common national story. Ethnicity, religion, and other primordial attachments have remained important tools of discord in the country.

“We have not been able to elevate ourselves above these debilitating sentiments and take advantage of our huge population, diversity, and abundant human and material resources. The cleavages of ethnocentrism, sectionalism, and parochialism have persisted over the years.

“Worst still, the nation’s governing instrument – the Constitution  is also defective, and the government is failing to live up to its primary responsibility of providing for the security and well-being of citizens.”

The PANDEF spokesman also lamented that the 1999 Constitution undermines the principle of federalism by the overt concentration of power and resources at the centre, which has impeded national development, security, peace, and stability.