… Insists fiscal federalism best gift to bequeath to people
By Chukwudi Nweje
Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori yesterday reiterated his call on the South-South leaders to unite in demanding fiscal federalism, which he noted, should be seen ‘as an unfinished business.’
Ibori, who in March 2000, convened a South-South Governors, Legislators and leaders’ summit in Asaba, Delta State, with the theme: ’We Must Not Fail Our People,” charged the South-South leaders to be apostles of fiscal federalism and see it as an unfinished business.
He charged the governors of the South-South states to pursue the enthronement of fiscal federalism as it is a higher calling they must respond.
He said: “The enthronement of true fiscal federalism is a higher calling, which they must respond and take charge on behalf of, and for the benefit of their people.
“From where I stand, the question is what’s the trajectory of the Niger Delta region? We must pull together to answer that question for the benefit of Niger Deltans.”
Ibori stated this in a press statement signed by his Media Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, yesterday.
He said that despite the mission and all the associated gains of the 2000 summit, much remained unaccomplished, even as new challenges have arisen.
He also charged the South-South leaders to unite and work for the common good of the region, noting that 10 months after the inauguration was enough time to settle their political grievances and rancour and move ahead as one people.
The former Delta State Governor, while congratulating the governors of states in the South-South geopolitical zone and their representatives in the National Assembly on their elections, noted that the batons handed over to governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State), Godwin Obaseki (Edo State), Bassey Otu (Rivers State), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Simi Fubara (Rivers State), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa State) by the three sets of governors before them in this Fourth Republic are now firmly in their hands.
He further said: “This baton bestows on them huge responsibilities beyond infrastructure. The enthronement of true fiscal federalism is a higher calling for which they must respond and take charge, on behalf of and for the benefit of their people.”