How to check nation's woes, by Ibori
From Sunny Ogefere, Asaba
FOR Delta State Governor, James Ibori, the nation's problems will continue if Nigerians do not properly define the type of government they want.
According to the governor, the problems of the country increase as crises erupt everywhere and as brothers take up arms against one another.
During an interactive session with trade union leaders in Asaba, the state capital, Ibori said notable Nigerians had expressed concern over the slide and the need to check it through a proper system of government.
"Every well-meaning Nigerian has said the problem we are having today - crisis here, crisis there, unresolved issues, brothers taking up arms against brothers, sisters fighting one another, is because we have not properly defined the nature of government that we want", he stated.
He continued: "If we want to run a federal system of government, we are not saying that we can achieve it overnight. But let us begin to move gradually towards a system of government that will achieve peace, unity and progress for us in this country".
According to him, Delta State indigenes and other people of the Niger Delta region believe in a fiscal federal Nigeria, as it is the only way for the development of the country and the region in particular.
"We believe that as a people in this state and as a group in the Niger Delta region, we need to benefit more from the national resources that have pleased God to put in our domain", he added.
Ibori commended the Labour movement both at the state and the national levels for standing by the people of the Niger Delta in their quest for resource control and greater stake in the business of oil prospecting and exploitation in the region.
In particular, he thanked President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who according to him, has used every available opportunity to express his (Oshiomhole) desire to see a true federal structure in the country.
The governor agreed with Labour in the state that there was the need to tackle the issue of abandoned projects particularly by contracting firms, which absconded after collecting mobilisation fees.
He enjoined Labour leaders and members of the public to hunt such culprits and report them to him.
"I want to appeal to NLC and all of you, well-meaning Delta people, that we should all track down and bring to book all erring contractors", he stated.
Ibori denied claims that the state had deducted some money from the local council funds, asserting that the state was able to save N1.2 billion for the 25 councils in the state during the period when the councils were not democratically constituted.
Ibori said the money had since been released to the councils with the advent of elected chairmen in the local councils.
He also expressed his willingness to investigate an allegation that the councils were recently directed to contribute N1.5 million each for a sport event.
Earlier, the state Chairman of NLC, Mr. Mike Okeme, said the Labour Consultative Forum was initiated by the governor as a measure to get feedback from the Labour sector.
Okeme decried the attitude of some contractors who collect mobilisation fees and abscond, urging them to stop the ugly trend.
|
