Posted by From Omon-Julius Onabu in Benin-City on
Nigerians who had always believed the unity of the diverse people of the South-South could never be forged have been put to shame with the new-found communality and solidarity among the people of the geo-political zone, especially as portrayed at the recent National Political Reform Conference in Abuja.
Nigerians who had always believed the unity of the diverse people of the South-South could never be forged have been put to shame with the new-found communality and solidarity among the people of the geo-political zone, especially as portrayed at the recent National Political Reform Conference in Abuja.
Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State made the observation in his welcome address to the Unity Rally of the South-South people organized by the South-South People's Assembly (SSPA), held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City, at the weekend.
Similarly, the national chairman of the SSPA executive council, Chief Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi, defended stoutly the seeming hard-line stance of the people of the zone in their demands for elimination of perceived injustice, saying the people have no apologies for such attitude.
Both men extolled the virtues of the founders of the new South-South initiative on broad national issues like demand for the presidency, true federalism and increased derivation revenue to the six states comprising the zone, and urged them to take the struggle to another level while not compromising their unity.
Governor Igbinedion, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, said that the nation had known of deep-seated scoffing at the possibility of a united South-South, on grounds of numerous tongues as well as cultural and ecological diversity, but expressed happiness 'we have proved them wrong."
'Many observers have scoffed at the possibility of such a rally as we are holding today", Igbinedion noted, because 'in their calculations the unity of the South-South is a practical impossibility… In fact, we are establishing a model for that great day when the ‘federal might' will no longer seek to crush minorities but will be used to perfect the rights of minorities." Earlier, Dokpesi, who said the 'unity rally is the climax of several efforts and co-ordinated attempts to forge unity and re-inflame the struggle for the emancipation of our people," stressed that the fighting spirit of the zone was fired by the fact that their cause is just and right.
The quest of the South-South for true federalism, 50 per cent derivation and the production of a South-southerner as President in 2007 are natural, just and equitable demands.
"Today, they have become our article of faith and creed, and, we have no apologies to make to anyone for our uncompromising stand on these matters… It is only people with no sense of justice and equity that think otherwise."