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‘Restructuring will guarantee prudent management of resources’

By Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt
30 August 2018   |   3:30 am
Former President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko, says only restructuring along fiscal federalism will guarantee the prudent management of the country’s resources.

Former President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko, says only restructuring along fiscal federalism will guarantee the prudent management of the country’s resources.

Okoko, who spoke with The Guardian from Germany, said the present political and economic structure would continue to hinder the country’s advancement.Reacting to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s statement that restructuring was not the problem of Nigeria, he said such position was aimed at confusing gullible Nigerians on the issue.He, therefore, expressed concern that anyone who understands the concept of federalism would see no fault in it.with the over-concentration of power and resources at the centre.

This, he, said was by virtue of the military-instigated 1999 constitution, as amended.The Ijaw leader explained that it was morally unjust for states, which produce the natural resources of the country to be going to Abuja.They go with cap in hand to beg for proceeds of their God-given resources, which the Federal Government controls and dispenses as it wishes.

Okoko blamed the wasteful management of Nigeria’s resources on the quasi federalism being practiced in the country. He argued that if states were allowed to control their resources, they would be compelled to prudently manage them for the development of their people.“There will be no successful management of our resources, if we do not restructure this country. If restructuring was not the problem of Nigeria, but the management of her resources, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been in power for three years, how have they been able to manage our resources,” he asked.

The ex-president wondered why the APC deliberately wanted to confuse Nigerians by setting up a committee on restructuring, whereas principal leaders of the party clearly have aversion for the reform of the country. He cautioned that the country would be hindered from attaining her full potentials, if it does not restructure, in line with the principle of fiscal federalism.

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