The Nation Newspaper

Tag: region’s

  • ‘Return Nigeria to regions’

    A pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Yoruba Koya Movement, has urged the Federal Government to return the nation’s system of governance to regionalism.

    The movement spoke yesterday at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos State, during its “Independence Day Crusade for Restructuring”.

    It said the panacea for Nigeria’s greatness is for each region to manage its resources, adding that the current Federal arrangement breeds indolence, disunity, marginalisation, subjugation of the minority and injustice.

    The movement, led by its Convener/Vice President, Otunba ‘Deji Osibogun, described the current Federal system of government as a “unitary system” masquerading as federalism.

    It warned that a delay in restructuring Nigeria may spell doom for future generations.

    Yoruba Koya said: “In terms of architectural designs, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, is still the best on the continent of Africa today. It was built with cocoa money during the era of regions.

    “The Cocoa House in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, still has not become structurally defective; it was built with cocoa money. Also, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, was built with groundnut money.

    “The University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN) was built with palm oil money, but since they destroyed regional government and balkanised the country into unproductive states with the introduction of Federal Character, which drastically terminated merit, the progress of the country has been shamefully retrogressing.”

  • ICYMI: Gani Adams: new Nigeria should be in regions

    ICYMI: Gani Adams: new Nigeria should be in regions

    •79th OPU chapter launched in Dubai

    Aare Ona Kakanfo-designate, Gani Adams, has said there will soon be a new Nigeria, when the country is restructured along regional line and returned to its glorious past.

    Adams spoke at Land Mark Hotel, Baniya, Dubai, venue of the launch of the United Arab Emirate’s (UAE’s) chapter of the Odua Progressive Union (OPU).

    He noted that against all odds, Nigeria would soon be restructured along regional line.

    The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader urged OPU members to play their roles well in the envisaged new Nigeria.

    Describing OPU as a wonderful platform for the unification of the Yoruba race in the Diaspora, Adams said: “Before today, the noble body operates effectively in 78 countries around the world.

    “Today’s launch brings the number of countries OPU is operational to 79, even though there are still more countries ready for launch as well.”

    He said the body had provided a veritable platform for Yoruba indigenes living far away from their home land to constantly interact on issues of common interest, especially those affecting the Yoruba and Nigeria.

    According to him, OPU is a non-partisan, non-religious, ethnic, socio-cultural and integrated sustainable development initiative packaged and developed by Yoruba sons and daughters based on a common vision and a shared conviction.

    Adams said the union is anchored on the determination of the Yoruba to extricate themselves from neglect and under-development.

    Insisting that the members have roles to play in rebuilding Nigeria, the OPU leader said: “We cannot shy away from the reality of the unhealthy state of our country, Nigeria.

    “We all have a role to play to ensure that our country returns to its glorious past.

    “That is why I challenge you, not only to lend your voice but to also ensure that you play your part in the restructured Nigeria that will emerge soon, by the grace of God.

    “To everyone who means well for the country, it has been unanimously agreed that Nigeria must be restructured along regional line for its glory to return.

    “Nigeria, for many of its over 250 ethnic groups, is obviously not a nation in the sense that we regard France, United Kingdom or South Africa as a nation.

    “That is why, given an option, many of the ethnic groups in Nigeria would prefer to be independent of the country.

    “Already, groups, such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), among others, have more or less shattered whatever illusions we may retain regarding the Nigeria that we are living in.

    “While Nigeria would obviously be better off remaining a nation, it is also true that a surgical operation is required to take out the cancer of disintegration currently ravaging the country on every side.”

  • Clark: seek support from other regions

    Clark: seek support from other regions

    Ijaw national leader Edwin Kiagbodo Clark has urged a group, the Niger Delta Leaders Assembly to seek support from other regions, if President Goodluck Jonathan must win the 2015 presidential election.

    The Southsouth leader gave the advice at his country home, Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State when members of the assembly visited him.

    Clark said the President has the right to contest because the constitution allows him, adding that the opposition against him was from a certain part of the country.

    He said Jonathan had strengthened democracy, resuscitated the railway, improved power supply and has spent over N5 billion building schools for Almajiris.

    The Ijaw leader advised the group to reach out to other parts of the country since they alone cannot make Jonathan president in 2015.

    The group said its mission to Clark’s home was to pledge support for Jonathan in 2015.

    A statement by the National Chairman, Carson Agidah, and the Publicity Secretary, Samuel Abasiekong, urged the President not to be afraid or contemplate any other option than to re-contest.

    “Our position on this issue is not a threat but to bring to the limelight that this is our turn and right of the region as the constitution provides for our son, Goodluck Jonathan, to run for a second term.

    “We are not ready to compromise it or let it go because of ethno-religious and regional threats.”

  • ‘Nigeria, South Africa drive region’s growth’

    ‘Nigeria, South Africa drive region’s growth’

    Nigeria and South Africa account for major portion of Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report said.

    It said intraregional trade and financing links within sub-Saharan Africa have been expanding significantly in recent years. However, it recognised that there is a long road to travel in terms of achieving close economic integration at the regional and sub-regional level.

    “As this integration proceeds and economic linkages deepen, the importance of spillover effects from large countries to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, and within their own sub-region, will grow: closer economic linkages inevitably imply increased exposure to shocks, both favorable and unfavorable, in partner countries,” it said.

    IMF African Department senior economist Cheikh Gueye said that to a large extent, South Africa is shaping the structure of trade within sub-Saharan Africa. He said that at least 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa export to South Africa and this represents one per cent of their GDP.

    “On the investment side, we have noticed that South African companies are investing in the rest of Africa, and this has an impact in shaping trade flows. Third, there are linkages in the financial system. Since 2005, Nigerian banks have extended their operation in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. That is also true of South African banks,” he said.

    According to him, Nigeria has different trade policies through its neighboring countries, and these policies have been a source of transmission of shock from Nigeria to the other countries.

    “Let us look at South Africa and its trade channel because it is quite large. South Africa is part of the SACU, the South African Customs Union.  The country and the other members of the SACU have what we call a customs revenue sharing formula.

    This means almost 50 per cent of the customs revenues within the zone will go to the remaining countries of the SACU,” he said.