South-South, South East Youths Forge Coalition On Fiscal Federalism, Devolution Of Powers To State

Members of South-South, South East Young Leaders Forum posed for photograph after its meeting in Asaba

A coalition of South South and South East Young Leaders Forum on Monday met in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The meeting which was the first of its type came barely few weeks after a similar meeting called by Governors of the South-east and the South-south zones who met in Enugu to forge inter-regional cooperation and integration.

In a communique signed by Mr. Moses Siasia, and Barr. Okolo Chimennma for South South Young Leaders Forum, and Bar. Levis Abony Uche, Comr. Odera Udutchay for South East Young Leaders Forum, they called on the Federal Government to kick-start the process of restructuring the country.

They also asked the Federal Government to begin the urgent implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 CONFAB Report especially as it relates to Fiscal Federalism by divulging more powers to the States.

The communiqué urged the Federal Government to allow component states develop at their pace with their available resources with minimal interference from the Federal Government.

It read in part: “We as young leaders are committed to a restructured Nigeria where all the component parts feel a sense of belonging without giving any undue advantage to any particular section of the country.

“Fiscal Federalism and Restructuring must ensure 100% resource control to ensure that proper attention is given to the hazards occasioned by environmental degradation and oil exploration activities within the both region.

“That the present Nigerian Constitution is defective to the extent that its provisions are not the product of the entire component parts that make up the Nigerian Federation and there is therefore the need for a new constitution.

“We therefore demand that the Federal Government should begin the process of birthing a True Peoples’ Constitution”.

They also aligned with the agenda of Governors of the zones to pursue inter- regional collaboration and corporation and commended them for the current rapprochement.

“We urge the socio-political leaders from both regions to build bridges and work together with sincerity of purpose for the benefit of the citizens therein.

“The South South /South East should unite as a united people bound by common cultural heritage and social affiliations in confronting those challenges that are peculiar to us as a people and our environment and to build consensus/coalition between the two brotherly regions in matters of national interest”.

The communique however noted that a united and viirile Nigeria is in the best interest of all provided that Equity, Justice and Fairness to all is the bedrock of our collective existence.