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CONSTITUTION REVIEW: Senators divided over proposed return to regional govt Senate
CONSTITUTION REVIEW: Senators divided over proposed return to regional govt
Senate
KANO- AS the National Assembly begins another process of review of the 1999 Constitution, Senators have been divided sharply over renewed calls for a return to the regional system of government.
Recall that there have been calls in some parts of the country that since regionalism had been tested and discovered to be a system of government that can tackle the challenges of a heterogeneous nation like Nigeria, it should be reintroduced to solve the country’s numerous challenges.
Speaking separately on Saturday to Journalists as the Senate Adhoc Committee on Constitution Review ended its two-day retreat in Kano, some Senators spoke in favour of regionalism as a panacea to the problems in the country while others vehemently kicked against it.
While the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central; Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central, and and Senator Muntari Dandutse, APC, Katsina South kicked against return to Regionalism, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, APC, Oyo North was fully in support.
The Senators spoke at the event, jointly organised by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).
Speaking on the issue, the Senate leader cautioned that no legislative action should be encouraged on the issue of regionalism so that it does not become an exercise in futility, just as he said that if it must come up, the political stakeholders, the civil society, as well as other stakeholders in the country, would have to debate on it and come to a conclusion.
According to him, going back to regional form of governance is something that will go beyond a bill being sponsored, either as a parliament member bill or as an executive bill adding that it is also not something that you sit down in a public hearing room and organize a public hearing to take a decision on.
He said that the question of whether or not to go back to Regionalism for now, can only remain within what he termed, “the realm of debate”.
Senator Bamidele said, “There are some decisions in the state of which an executive bill cannot come to the parliament unless there are some political consensus. For me, going back to regional form of governance is something that will go beyond a bill being sponsored, either as a parliament member bill or as an executive bill. It’s also not something that you sit down in a public hearing room and organize a public hearing to take a decision on.
“An example is when people tell us, oh, you know, you are in parliament. As a parliament, you cannot discard the entire constitution. Nigeria needs a new constitution.
This constitution cannot work. It’s easy for people to make such arguments, but that is not something we can sit down in parliament and do. So we are changing the constitution because that would require a political consensus, and that would also require the binding of the Nigerian people themselves.
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” I mean, why is it so difficult to amend even one section of the constitution, not even talk of discarding the entire constitution? So, to amend a single provision in the constitution today, the National Assembly, all chambers, will have to go through this entire process we are going through, which we go through in every legislative assembly, and many of you have been a part of this process. And after all these things that we have to do in the National Assembly, we still have to go to the public to organize a public hearing. We just decided now that we are going to be organizing a public hearing on geopolitical, zonal levels, you know? And apart from that, what we are also doing with all of these public hearings at the zonal level, we come back here to vote.
“And after voting, we still have to go through, I mean, all the 36 chambers of the Assembly, and we need at least two-thirds of them to endorse. The reason our forefathers and the writers of our constitution, you know, did all of that, is to make it difficult, not difficult, not easy, for a few people to just sit down, or people in one section of the country, you know, to just sit down and change the constitution. So if we are to go through all of that, you know, to change one provision of our constitution, how much more? You know, if we are talking about changing, I mean, the type of governance that we are going to have.
“Some decisions were taken, you know, under the military regime, because there was no democratic process in place. And when you are in a democracy, especially a democracy that remains so nascent, you know, almost 64 years after independence, you see that the need for political consensus cannot be overemphasized. So, for me, the question of whether or not to go back to Regionalism for now, can only remain within the realm of debate, you know, and no legislative action should be encouraged in that regard so that it doesn’t become an exercise in futility.
But, you know, the political stakeholders, the civil society, as well as other stakeholders, in the country, would have to still debate this and come to a conclusion.
Also kicking against regionalism, Senator Ningi said, “I have heard so much about regional government or federalism and I have heard people going about, canvassing for such ideas. For a start, no matter how you see it, the current document is still the grundnorm of the Nigerian Constitution (sic). It has also stipulated how it is going to be amended. Having said that, it is also imperative to know that it isn’t just enough for anybody to come and say he is representative of one ethnic group or another.
“The question that arises is, when was this mandate canvassed? When was it received? You are a representative of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria, at what time were you given the mandate to canvass that? The only people that are given this mandate, to look at the Constitution and amend it are, of course, members of the National Assembly. Therefore, it is important for those who go about selling these ideas, false ideas in my opinion, that they are representatives of the people to let Nigerians know where they are coming from and in whose mandate and when was this mandate given to them.
“”As for the regional government, we have seen how the regional government was operated in the past. My part of the constituency that I am representing didn’t enjoy the development of that so-called regional government that was based in Kaduna. We aren’t going back there again! I am speaking for my senatorial district. It is either the Nigerian Federation or nothing. We can go along, my senatorial district will be satisfied independently with Nigeria, if that is what is required.
“As far as regional government, my constituency, my people aren’t for it. What we need is the reform of the Federal government, fiscal federalism and there is nothing like true federalism.
“I have visited India, Argentina, Singapore, and the United States, all in trying to understand federalism. Federalism is done according to the history of each particular country. But what is important about our federalism is serious reforms but the bottom line is not what you see on paper that is important. It is the practitioners and the implementers, otherwise, the Constitution has been able to sustain us over 25 years. That means that there is something germane and important about it. What it needs is that at every given time you look at it in particular, the devolution of power is so much more important, from the State to the local government level. There is no clear distinction of power between the state and the local government but there is distinctive separation of power between the Federation and the sub-nationals.”
Also kicking against regionalism, Senator Dandutse said, “As responsible elites and citizens, we must collaborate to ensure the nation’s well-being. Narrow thinking will not get us anywhere. Every region in this country is blessed, and what we need is good governance, responsible leadership, and fair access to resources. Nigeria has immense potential, and unless we are serious and determined, we won’t move forward.
“This is our moment to advance. We’ve seen how many countries have failed due to limited thinking and negative attitudes, especially in Africa and other developing regions. If you look at countries like Japan, they have developed without significant natural resources, relying instead on intellectual capacity. Germany too, despite lacking the resources Nigeria possesses, has progressed.”
Supporting the return to regionalism, Senator Buhari said, “Recall that the regions were able to harness their resources in the First Republic. We were able to harness all our resources. There was no dominance of a particular resource(s). In those years, the North was known for the pyramid of groundnuts, and the south west was known for cocoa, we should be able to do that and then when you make the centre less attractive you cut off corruption– you can’t wipe it off, but you can cut it off, because there is what is called, watch your team. People will watch their team within their locality or their region.”
Recall that Nigeria practised a more regional form of government between 1954 and 1966, in the Western, Eastern, and Northern regions. The Mid-Western region was later carved out of the Western region in 1963.
The model lasted until 1966, but when rebellious soldiers killed national political figures based mostly on tribal and regional affiliations. After this, Nigeria’s first military Head of State, General Aguiyi Ironsi, promulgated the “unification decree” to eliminate tribal and regional loyalties, the interests perceived to be encouraged by regionalism.
This led to the Biafra War – when the southern part of Nigeria dominated by the Igbo people declared independence. A violent conflict from 1967–1970 led to millions of deaths before the separatist movement was suppressed.
Culled from Vanguard News
News
IPF Visit Burutu for On-the-spot Assessment as Dr. Takeme Reiterates Commitment to Sustaining Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda
By Favour Bibaikefie
The Executive Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area in Delta State, Dr. Julius Takeme, has reaffirmed his dedication to sustainable development across the council in consonance with the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori MORE agenda. He made this commitment on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by members of the Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF) at the local government secretariat.
The visit marked the beginning of an inspection tour by the IPF, a coalition of media executives, across Ijaw local government areas nationwide.
In his address to the IPF delegation, Takeme emphasized that his administration is committed to the MORE AGENDA, a developmental initiative championed by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. He highlighted that within one year, Burutu Local Government has witnessed significant infrastructural improvements under his leadership.
“Guided by Governor Oborevwori’s MORE AGENDA, our administration has undertaken numerous visible infrastructural projects in Burutu,” Takeme stated. “This mandate has driven us to prioritize the transformation of Burutu, leading to the construction of a combined one-kilometer internal road network.”
The Olotu of Obotebe Kingdom further noted that his administration has invested in critical sectors such as public health, sanitation, housing, and civil servant welfare. He pointed out that several senior council officers had previously faced challenging working conditions, which his administration has actively addressed.
Takeme listed key intervention projects, including the renovation of health centers in Labulouseigha and Ofougbene communities, the construction and renovation of senior staff quarters, and the building of residential quarters for the President of the Customary Court. Additional projects include the construction of three modern public toilets, distribution of essential medicines to health centers, and the employment of over 2,000 women to maintain cleanliness within the local government headquarters.
He further disclosed that several other projects are in the pipeline and will be officially commissioned as part of his administration’s one-year anniversary celebrations.
IPF President and Niger Delta activist, Comrade Austin Ozobo, who also serves as the Publisher of Congress Newspaper, explained that the forum’s tour aims to evaluate governance and development across Ijaw communities. He commended Takeme for his efforts and urged him to sustain the momentum in delivering essential services and infrastructure to the people of Burutu.
By Warefa Pereke.
March 31, 2025.
Thousands of Dignitaries and Media Outfits Witnessed the Unveiling of Iduwini Voice Newspaper.
March 29, 2025, will be etched in the annals of history as the day Iduwini Voice Newspaper was officially launched at the prestigious MBB Event Center. The highly anticipated event, drew thousands of dignitaries, media personalities, and enthusiasts from across the region to MBB event Center, Refinery Road Effurun, Delta State.
The launch ceremony, which commenced at 11:00 am, was a testament to the meticulous planning and organization of the Media team. The MBB Event Center was transformed into a vibrant hub of activity, with attendees eagerly awaiting the unveiling of Iduwini Voice Newspaper.
In his welcome address, The Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Iduwini Voice Newspaper, Dr. Peretengboro Clintin Bibaikefie, outlined the publication’s vision and mission, emphasizing its commitment to factual reporting, balanced analysis, and investigative journalism.
“Permit me to say that the idea of Iduwini Voice stemmed from a revolutionary vision that tasked me heavily in a deep ‘wilderness of the mind,’ thronging hard to come up with a catchy, fancy, and contemporary brand name, but kept being guided back to my root…For too long, our stories have been told by others – often with bias, misrepresentation, or outright immission, often intended to manipulate the powers that be against us Africans, Nigerians, Niger Deltans, and Ijaws in particular. The Iduwini Voice was founded on the principle of authenticity, truth, and empowerment. We believe that everyone has a story to tell, but not everyone has the platform to tell it. This is why we boldly adopted the slogan: “Voice of the Voiceless.””
“We will strive to provide our readers with accurate, timely, and engaging content, while also promoting the values of fairness, justice, and equality,” he said.
In his lecture delivered at the occasion of Iduwini Voice Newspaper/TV launch, entitled: “The Digital Tide And The Upsurge of Avant-Garde Journalism”, Professor Benedict Ebimotimi Binebai explored the remarkable journey of Iduwini Voice Newspaper and its impact on the media world. “Iduwini Voice delves into the vision of creativity and innovation that have made it a beacon of Avant-Garde storytelling. Iduwini Voice brings stories from the grassroots, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. It helps to preserve the cultural heritage and traditions of the Niger Delta region, and conducts in-depth investigations into issues like corruption, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation,” he said.
In his keynote address, The Father of the Day, Professor Benjamin Ogele Okaba, President Ijaw National Congress, said that as the Ijaw Nation demonstrates its dedication to the development of the media industry, Iduwini Voice Newspaper will become a leading voice in Nigerian journalism, promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.
The chief Launcher, Chief Dr. Julius Takeme JP (Phd), The Olotu of Obotebe Kingdom, and Chairman, Burutu Local Government Council, pressed on the need for the Ijaws to support any Ijaw cause financially and otherwise. “We are proud to launch Iduwini Voice Newspaper, a platform that will provide a voice for the voiceless, promote transparency, and hold leaders accountable,” he stated.
Chief Comrade Cheriff Mulade, Director-General, Center For Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), who Chaired the occasion, emphasized the importance of a free and independent press in promoting democracy and good governance. He expressed his commitment to supporting the growth and development of the media industry in Niger Delta.
The event featured a range of activities, including a discussion on the role of the media in promoting democracy, a presentation on the history and significance of Iduwini Voice Newspaper, and a tour of the publication’s state-of-the-art facilities.
As the curtains drew to a close with a vote of thanks offered by Barrister Sam Ikporukpo, attendees were treated to a spectacular display of music, dance, and other performances, showcasing the rich diversity of the Niger Delta region.
Other dignitaries present were Pastor Adonis Osarobo, the Zonal Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Later Rain Zone, Spiritual Father of the Day, Hon. Julius Pondi, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment & Member Representing Burutu Federal Constituency, House of Representatives, Abuja, Comrade Newworld Endoro, Chairman, Odimodi Community, Hon. Dennis Yenbri Bibaikefie, Mr. Akin Benikrukru, PIA Chairman, Iduwini Host Community Development Board, Delta State.
Others were Comrade Isaiah Tamaraunimi Ingo, SA to the NDDC Chairman, Comrade Ozobo Austin,
Publisher of Cogress Newspaper & President, Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF), Mr. Cletus Opukeme,
Publisher of Daily Watch Newspaper,
Also present were Arex Ambrose Akemotubo, CEO, WaffiTv & Auditor of Delta State PDP, Jacobs Brakere Abai, CEO of Gbaramatuvoice, Comrade Mike Ugedi, CEO of Delta Events Tv,
Ekpegha Tamaraupreye,
Publisher of South-South Daily, and a host of others.
In an interview with Media personnel after the lunching, the Editor-in-chief of the Ezon Efie Media outfit, Engr. Warefa Pereke, said that with its lunch, Iduwini Voice Newspaper has set a new standard for journalism in Nigeria, and its commitment to truth, fairness, and accountability is expected to resonate with readers across the Nigeria”.
PHOTO CAPTION: Dignitaries and guests at the launch of Iduwini Voice Newspaper at the MBB Event Center on March 29, 2025.
By Divine Perezide
Prominent Ijaw leaders, including the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, Professor Benedict Binebai, Chief Mulade Sheriff, and others, have rallied behind indigenous Ijaw media organizations, emphasizing the importance of community journalism in advancing the Ijaw cause.
Speaking at the official launch of IduwiniVoice over the weekend in Warri, the leaders acknowledged that the struggle for the Niger Delta’s development has evolved beyond physical confrontation to strategic media advocacy. They stressed that media reportage now serves as the voice of marginalized communities, highlighting the region’s underdevelopment to the wider public.
In their speeches, Professor Okaba, Professor Binebai, Chief Sheriff, and Burutu LGA Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Julius Takeme, underscored the critical role the media plays in Ijaw society.
Chief Sheriff Mulade, chairman of the occasion, praised the publisher of Iduwini Voice, Prince (Dr.) Klintin Bibakefie, and other Ijaw publishers for their dedication to promoting the interests of the Ijaw people and the Niger Delta. He also commended Comrade Ozobo Austin, the national president of the Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), for uniting Ijaw media professionals into a formidable force.
INC President Prof. Okaba highlighted the numerous challenges the Ijaw nation has faced over the past year, including political turmoil in Rivers State and the passing of key Ijaw figures such as Pa E.K. Clark. However, he assured that the Ijaw people remain resilient and confident in securing victory in ongoing political struggles, emphasizing that history has shown their ability to overcome adversity.
Professor Benedict Binebai urged Ijaw journalists to uphold principles of truth, accuracy, and fearlessness in their reporting. He referenced the legacy of the late Earnest Ikoli, a pioneering journalist from Ijawland, whose influence continues to inspire indigenous journalists today.
During his keynote lecture, Professor Binebai introduced a new journalistic approach, which he termed Avant-Garde Journalism. This unique concept, he explained, aligns with Ijaw reporters who experience firsthand the political, economic, and environmental injustices faced by their people. He argued that traditional journalism had failed the Ijaw cause due to biased reporting and manipulated narratives, which downplayed the extent of marginalization in the region.
With IduwiniVoice and other Ijaw media outlets championing the undiluted truth in what authorities describe as avant-gardejournalism, the leaders expressed optimism that indigenous journalism will continue to shed light on the struggles of the Ijaw nation and drive meaningful change.
