CCN attacks Oyegun over comments on marginalization
The Chairman, Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Rev Tunde Adeleye, has taken a swipe on the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun over a comment he made recently that the people of the South East have no “moral standing” to make case for their marginalization as long as they remained outside the fold of the APC.
Rev Adeleye answering question from newsmen in Calabar said, “National Chairman of APC’s comment was unfortunate. Odigie-Oyegun said last week that if you don’t want marginalization join APC, I did not only saw it in newspapers but I heard him on television.
“People are complaining of marginalization and somebody is saying if you don’t want marginalization join APC, that statement is unfortunate. That’s a man I always respected and loved but regretted that he made such statement.
“When he was contesting for governorship race in Edo State, that’s my state, he had no friend, only the people were his friends, he was a retired permanent secretary, no friend, nothing, and on television, he opened his cap and said his grey hairs were for wisdom and experience. But that statement was less expected of him, the statement that APC is all and all is unfortunate.
“Those who had involved in corruptions found solace in APC, the moment you join APC you are covered, is that democracy, I don’t know what kind of statement was that, If all of us join APC today, we are finish, that’s in fact is not democracy,” he stated.
On restructuring he said, restructure has to do with the problems of governance which will reduce marginalization, neglect, oppression and cheating of a particular area. “This will pave way for devolution of power in Nigeria whereby powers will be shared among Federal, State and Local Government.”
He explained that, Federal Government will take charge of Foreign policy, very major roads, trade, currency, immigration, postal system, telecommunication, air travel, broadcasting and defence.
The state according to him will handled State Police, hospital, conservation, environmental, roads, public transportation, prisons and emergency services while local government will be responsible local government matters such as Bus stops, local roads, road signs, local buildings.
“The general name for this arrangement is federalism. Until and unless Nigeria practices real and true federalism, we may be grounded to a halt,” adding that the present system is a fall out of the unitary culture of military dictatorship which we lived with for many years.
“Nigeria therefore needs restructuring. We must and should restructure. We cannot continue to go on like this” The present derivation system is simply oppressive. The states should have more than they are having especially those states which produce the main national resources. We must restructure,” he stated.
Edem Bassey, Calabar
