Uduaghan Harps on True Federalism, Okays Confab to Restructure Nigeria

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (Middle); Mr. Charles Ajuyah, Attorney General, Delta State (Left) and Hon. Brickins Okolosi Representative of the Chief Judge (Right), during the Nigerian Bar Association 2014 Law Week, in Warri

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan on Wednesday harped on the need for Nigeria to practice federalism in its true sense with a belief that the ongoing National Conference would help correct the ills of the form of government in the country.

Speaking at the 2014 Law Week of the Warri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA),Uduaghan praised the association for constructively drawing government’s attention to critical issues devoid of sycophancy.

Commending the NBA on the theme of its week, ” Federalism, Democracy and Leadership in Nigeria, ” the governor lamented that federalism as currently practised in Nigeria was a far departure from the tenants and principles as enunciated by the proponents of the concept.

He observed, “There have been questions as to: is there a federalism, what is true federalism? Is there true federalism or there is no true federalism? Is there a federalism that is false? All sort of definitions have been given to federalism.

” But for us and for me, if we agree to practise federalism, then we must practise it the way it is properly defined. For now we are not there yet in terms of federalism. When it suits certain persons, it is federalism and when it does not suit them it is not federalism. But we will get there some day.”

Governor Uduaghan commended President Goodluck Jonathan for providing a window of opportunity to address the problems of the Nigerian Federation through the ongoing National Conference.

Uduaghan who disclosed that Delta State has submitted a memorandum to the conference , expressed the hope that it would help address the imbalance and distortions in the federation.

The Governor singled out the NBA for constructively drawing attention of government to critical issues devoid of the usual sycophancy, describing the trend as a great support to his administration.

“When you draw the attention of the administration in a very mature way to issues that affect the state that have to be attended to, for me there is no greater support than that.

“In our position people tell us what we want to hear. People tell you so that you are happy . But when we see a group of people who tell us not with the purpose to make us happy but for us to effect changes, that for me is much greater support than any other support.

“The Nigeria Bar Association, especially the Warri branch has done that consistently over the years,” he said. He commended the NBA for buying into his administration’s on going clean up of urban towns in the state, promising to maintain the tempo till the end of his tenure without wavering.

Uduaghan explained that his administration was stepping up efforts at its infrastructure development programme, especially in the Warri area, adding that the Ubeji and Jedo Roads among others were slated for dualisation to ease free movement.The governor assured that military road blocks in Warri and environs that have outlived their usefulness would be immediately dismantled while those at strategic locations are to be removed gradually.

Chairman of the Warri branch of the NBA, Ben Oji had in his address drawn the attention of the state government to a number of issues , including security, infrastructure development, funding of the judiciary.