Restructuring Nigeria is Non-Negotiable ~ IYC Spokesperson

Amidst growing clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria for an enduring peace and unity, the publicity secretary of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Ebilade Ekefere, has lent his voice to the call for the restructuring, adding that it is the only panacea to true fiscal federalism, equity, resource control, equitable distribution of political power and justice.
He noted that since the incoming government will be led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had been in the forefront of the fight for democracy and human rights, the issue of restructuring must be in the agenda.
The IYC spokesperson in a chat with journalists on the sidelines of the burial ceremony of pa Abraham Joseph Michael Diri, father of the Bayelsa State governor, senator Douye Diri, at Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, said the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration must not deviate from restructuring, true fiscal federalism, resource control for an egalitarian Nigeria.
He also used the opportunity to condemn in its entirety the recent dehumanization of Nigerian students in war torn Sudan, alleging that weak and faulty institution were responsible for Nigerian students leaving the country to further their studies abroad.
“Our foreign policy is too weak and needs to be strengthen, our ambassadors are not proactive enough.”
Ekefere said that the economy and educational institutions need to be rejigged, adding that once our educational system is improved to international standards with better remuneration for university lecturers and absence of incessant strikes, it will curb brain drain and zeal for educational studies outside the shore of the country.
“Institutions here are not working, professors poorly paid, no incentives, poor package and brain drain. The in-coming government needs a robust educational policy where stakeholders would brainstorm to resolve holistically all concomitant problems bedeviling our educational system to accommodate all shades of opinion.
“We must look inward, strengthen our institutions, if our institutions are properly funded, without strikes and poor packages for our lecturers, our students will no longer go abroad for foreign universities. These must be in front burner of the incoming government,” he said.
On the recent discovery of oil in the Northern part of the country, Ekefere said the people of the Niger Delta were happy over the development, adding that “nothing should stop Southerners once they have the capacity and wherewithal to own oil blocks there, as the Northerners have owned oil blocks in the south which the southerners have been protecting to enhance the nation’s economy.
“The Southerner deserve the rights of first refuser. If our people have the capacity to participate, it is wrong impression that we are not in one country. Our expectations is that Northerners participate in oil blocks in the South and Southerners too should be allowed to participate in owing oil blocks found in the Northern part of Nigeria.”
He said the Ijaw Youth Council has been in the vanguard of protecting the oil facility to produce optimally for the economy.
Speaking on the galaxy of personalities that thronged Sampou for the burial, he said it signifies that Governor Douye Diri is “open minded, leads the people well in giant strides, he does not make noise, is engrossed in developing his people, he accommodate all shades of opinion even embracing his political opponent, Chief Timpre Sylva and have the morale to pay condolence visit, he avoids politics of violence and his peaceful disposition, belief in love shows that he is a bridge builder across every strata of the society who does not discriminate against anybody or differences in political affiliation.
“This is the type of leader worthy of emulation,” he said, adding that this accounted for the array of dignitaries, ranging from past, presidents, vice president, senators, governors and governors-elect from all over the country as well as captains of industries in their droves that have been coming to Sampou to express their heart-felt sympathy and show their solidarity since the governor’s father passed on.