EQUITY AND JUSTICE IN S/EAST & S/SOUTH PART 3

On governors not paying salaries

‘’The fact is that most states in the region are grinding to a halt. It is not only in the region but about 33 states in Nigeria can no longer pay salaries. Even when they pay salaries for the mainstream workers, the local government workers and pensioners are not paid. Even contractors are not being paid. So it is not just a challenge that affects both regions. A situation where you spend 90 percent of your money on 15 percent of your population, things don’t work.

The challenges in the country are not just about South East/ South South, it is a general thing. The main battle in the country now is to set the economy on the right path. A situation where the exchange rate is volatile is not tenable. That is why we are concerned about how to set agenda for the economy. It is not about governments in the region coming to a halt, even the federal government is coming to a halt because it can not pay its bills.


Black market economy

‘’The reason why the country’s economy has not totally collapsed is because of the efficiency of the black market economy. The formal sector is disorganized now while the informal sector is currently sustaining the economy. Something must be done to save the formal sector. It can become so bad if not addressed.

We agree that some of the governors in both regions have not done better though Obiano has performed better, but what really can he do when the tide is against him because we are bound by a common currency? The reason why the Naira is losing value on a daily basis is because we don’t use what we have to achieve what we want.

So, that must be addressed for the entire nation. The Anambra model is worth replicating because things work there now. In fact, all the kidnappers and other criminals who were in the state have relocated to neighbouring states because the governor made the state hot for them.


States should replicate Anambra model

‘’Now, Anambra is a model of security in the South East and we are saying that it was not done through rocket science. We are now saying that all the 11 states in the region should strive to get to the level of Anambra and study what they are doing right. In Rivers State where the number of small arms is alarming, the state should do more than what Anambra is doing.

We are saying that all the states in both regions should replicate the Anambra model and where there are challenges, we will assist in making things work. It was because of the insecurity that we have decided to go to Port Harcourt and Enugu.



On restructuring

‘’A young man over four decades ago decided to create 12 states and suddenly small regional towns became state capitals with development. In a situation where you have only one town in the country that has economic value, there would be problems that need to be addressed. Immediately they created Abuja, Kaduna died, Kano died, Sokoto is not in existence and Jos is no more. That says much about our system.

A system that can allow anyone to steal to N530 million every month, who is to blame? Is it the person or the system? Some of these challenges are common to both regions, but it is a national challenge. An agenda must be set to better the system.

So many fundamental things are wrong in the country and those issues that are germane to us are no longer prioritised and that is the reason these things happening.

Let us not deceive ourselves, once there is inequality in the system, people will agitate and that is what is happening now. So, the system must be restructured to bring about equality and meaningful growth.’’