By David  Owei, Yenagoa.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, have identified ethnicity, lack of respect for the rule of law as some of the impediments to the practice of true federalism in Nigeria.

They made the assertion on Tuesday at
the third Annual Memorial Public Lecture organised by the Niger Delta University (NDU), in collaboration with the state’s Founding Fathers Forum in honour of Dr Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei at the University’s auditorium in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

Senator Diri represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the public lecture which has as its theme: ” Convergence And Coalescence of Federalists As Imperative For The Survival of The Nigerian State,” the governor argued that Nigeria has not practiced effective federalism right from its independence in 1960.

He stressed that nationalists and founding fathers of the country such as Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello pursued more of regional and ethnic interests rather than promoting the practice of true federalism.

The Bayelsa State Chief Executive stressed that until stakeholders of Nigeria agree on the system of government to operate that caters to the interests of all subnational units and have respect for the rule of law, democracy would continue to be a mirage.

Senator Diri, who paid glowing tribute to late Dr Amba Ambaiowei and other founding fathers of the state, noted that without the creation of Bayelsa, the state would not have recorded the significant milestones it had achieved in all spheres of development.

His words: “The nationalists that we rever, did they actually work for federalism? My answer is yes and no.
Let me start with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who formed the NCNC and was limited to the Southeast.

“Chief Awolowo formed the Action Group and was limited to the Southwest. Tafawa Balewa and his cohorts, the Saudauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, formed the NPC and was limited to the North. Is that federalism?

“Yes, one can say they also worked for federalism because they were thinking of how to emancipate the country from colonial rule.”

Delivering the lecture, the Guest Lecturer, Bishop Matthew Kukah, posited that Nigerians must address the peculiarities regarding the kind of democracy it operates in order to achieve inclusive democratic governance.

He described ethnicity, religion and other primordial sentiments as not only potent threats to the practice of true federalism, but also serves sources of unhealthy rivalry.

Bishop Kukah, however, urged Nigerians not to despair but be hopeful and work for a better future, stating that provision of critical infrastructure across the country would promote interconnectivity, unity and the overall wellbeing of the citizens.

According to him, “The question that we must address is, what is peculiar about our own kind of democracy? Because there is something peculiar. We have not succeeded yet in managing to erase the corrosive edges of ethnicity.

“Ethnicity remains a very potent weapon and when it remains a source of identity and justification;and religion and other forms of identity, the country will remain a largely volatile state full of children who are often comparing what they have because they will always compare themselves and realise that others are doing better than them.”

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion and one-time Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Gabriel Toby, described Dr Ambaiowei as a minority rights advocate and nation builder who played a major pioneering role leading to the creation of Bayelsa State.

According to him, Nigeria is a great country with enormous potential and must strive to profess the principles of federalism rather than succumb to the extant unitarian system which stifles sustainable growth and development in the country.

In his goodwill message, the immediate past deputy governor and Chairman Bayelsa Elders Council, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), said creation of Bayelsa State with just 8 local government areas should not be seen as a favour but a disservice to the state, considering the enormous economic contributions to the national coffers.

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Niger Delta University and host of the event, Prof. Allen Agih, described the theme ot the lecture as timely and expressed appreciation to all who graced the event particularly Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and the guest lecturer, Bishop Kukah.

Dignitaries who attended the programme were, Member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei, Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum, Amb. Bolade Igali, Prof Franklin Osaisai, Chief Timi Kaiser Ogoriba, Bishop Hyacinth Ogbebo of the Bomadi Catholic Diocese, among others.