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S�South: A declaration by a divided people
Dotun Oladipo
It appeared there could not have been a better meeting point or forum for the articulation of the views of the people of the South-south zone than the one provided on November 9, 2004 when leaders of the zone gathered in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to chart the way forward for the zone. The meeting, under the aegis of the South-South Peoples Assembly, was attended by prominent citizens of the zone and came up with far reaching decisions meant to better the lot of the people of the area.
The leaders of the zone at the meeting were led by Governors Peter Odili of Rivers State and Donald Duke of Cross River State. Others present were the deputy governors of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Edo States; former President of the Senate, Dr. Joseph Wayas; former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Akhigbe; former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok; first governor of the Mid-West State, Major General David Ejoor; and former Minister of Information and leader of the Ijaw, Chief Edwin Clark. Others that attended were the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the SSPA, Chief Aleogho Dokpesi, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Senator Stella Omu and Mrs. Alagoa. Others included former governors (military and civilian) from the zone, past and present members of the National Assembly and other public office holders.
While resolving to pursue unity among the people of the zone and the emancipation of the people to guarantee true equity, unity, equality and justice within a united Nigeria, the forum said that having made enormous contributions to the development of Nigeria, the zone should not be treated unfairly. The forum noted the contributions of the zone to the unification of the country during the 1966 crisis and the civil war, and the over 93 per cent contribution to Nigeria�s export earnings.
The leaders said despite the contributions, the zone had not been treated fairly. Said the declaration, �Inspite of our enormous contributions above, we have suffered great injustice and deprivation within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The creation of states, local governments and constituencies which are units for the distribution of funds exploited from our zone were done in a manner designed to ensure the perpetual subjugation of the peoples of the zone. As our zone continues to suffer from the massive exploitation, environmental degradation, economic stagnation and social unrest, the country shows great insensitivity to the cries of our people. Although we overwhelmingly supported every ruler of our country (elected or appointed), we have never received reciprocal consideration.� It observed that the Derivation Principle being applied to revenue allocation had been reduced over the years from 50 per cent to nothing before it was again re-introduced at the rate of 1.5 per cent and now 13 per cent. The leaders said that the 13 per cent was not even being faithfully and fully implemented, adding, �Worse still, it is now being contested by our fellow Nigerians. Our people must be allowed to find a home in Nigeria. We demand that we be allowed to participate in Nigeria as equal partners and major contributors to her destiny.�
To ensure a fair treatment for the zone, the leaders resolved to puruse the enthronement of true federalism with a return to the post-independence Derivation Principle of not less than 50 percent. The declaration, signed by Wayas, Clark, Karibi-Whyte, Dokpesi, Akhigbe, Horsefall, Alagoa and Omu, also resolved that the zone was not going to cede any part of it to another zone or country, rejecting in particular the decision of the World Court to cede Balassi Local Government Area to Cameroon.
�The declaration said further, �While we concede the rights of all Nigerians to approach the courts for the determination of their rights, we condemn in its totality the present pursuit by some governors challenging the recent abrogation of the onshore/offshore dichotomy. We consider the suit offensive, insensitive, vexatious and one more grnad design to humiliate and further deprive our zone economically. It shows lack of appreciation of the contributions of our zone to the development of the country. We call for the immediate withdrawal of this action. Where they fail to do so, we direct all governments and peoples of the zone to contest it vigorously.�
What appeared to be the high points of the declaration were the calls for the convocation of a National conference and the decision of the zone to contest the 2007 presidency. The forum said it was in support of a National conference in order to address the contentious issues troubling the country and which have limited her growth and development. It added, �We wholeheartedly commit ourselves to the pursuit of a South-South president for the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2007. We have supported every other zone to occupy and hold the presidency. We believe that the time has now come for Nigeria to allow a Nigerian citizen from the South-South to occupy for the first time in our history the exalted position of the president��
But even before the commencement of the meeting, there appeared to have been a sharp division among the people of the zone on how to achieve the goals set out by the declaration. The failure of four out of the six governors of the zone to attend the meeting was enough signal to watchers of events in the zone that all was not well. The governors that were absent at the meeting were those of Akwa Ibom, Obong Victor Attah; Bayelsa, Chief Dipreye Alameiyeiseigha; Delta, Chief James Ibori; and Edo, Chief Lucky Igbinedion. While Attah, Alameiyeiseigha and Igbinedion sent their deputies, Ibori did not send any representative to the meeting.
Two days before the meeting, indications had emerged that the four governors were going to be absent at the meeting. Reasons for this bothered on the unresolved face-off with Odili and former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, over the choice of a replacement for the late National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Aminasoari Dikibo, and a rumoured move to use the forum to endorse the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, as the candidate of the zone for the 2007 presidential election. Though the meeting was not a party affair, the division over Ake�s choice was brought to the fore because of the belief that only the PDP was a viable platform for the actualisation of the dream of the zone to produce a prominent leader in the 2007 elections.
There had been a sharp disagreement among the governors over the choice of Chief Godspower Ake as the replacement for Dikibo. Attah, Alameiyeiseigha, Ibori and Igbinedion are opposed to the choice of Ake. They have consistently hinged their argument on the fact that Ake, a former Special Adviser to Odili on Lands and Survey, was foisted on the zone by Odili. They said the nomination of Ake was single-handedly done by Odili without consulting them, arguing that though the former occupant of the position was from Rivers State, they ought to have been consulted since the position was for the entire zone. But Odili had equally insisted that the slot was reserved for the state in the party and that there was no need to consult anyone before taking a decision on who should take over from Dikibo who was killed last year in Delta State.
Special Assistant, Media Relations to Igbinedion, Okharedia Ihimekpen, stated what he said was the official position of the four governors in an interview before the meeting. The Sunday before the meeting, Ihimekpen told our correspondent that the issue of Dikibo�s successor was yet to be settled and would go a long way in determining whether the four governors would attend or not.
Sources said that the decision of the four governors to also stay away from the meeting was informed by their belief that the atmosphere in the country was not yet conducive for the emergence of a president from the South-South. Said a source, �The thinking was that we do not have that ability at this stage to get the confidence of the other zones, especially the North, that if we get into power we would not secede. At least going by what Asari Dokubo and Tom Ateke are doing who will give us the presidency? The suspicion is that since we have the economic power and we have been complaining for a very long time, if we get the political power, we will secede. So, who will give us the political power? That was why we agreed that we should position ourselves properly to get the vice-president�s slot. And that is what is realistic at this stage. So, why deceive ourselves by now choosing a presidential candidate that will fail?�
The Punch, Monday, November 15, 2004
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