Confab: Southern leaders insist on Bakassi, true federalism

In an attempt to present a common front during the proposed National Conference, leaders from South South, South East and South West on Monday rose from a one-day conference in Calabar, tagged “Southern Leaders Summit” with a resolve to insist on true federalism and a revisit of the loss of Bakassi when the conference eventually kicks ff.

The summit, which had as its theme “The Centenary and the Imperative for a National Conference” drew leaders from the academia, business circle, politicians, labour, religious and traditional leaders, youths and women.

At the end of the six-hour summit, the former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, read a 13-point communiqué which, however, centred on the position of Southern Nigeria as regards the national conference.

The communiqué stated, amongst other things, that “we support the re-establishment of truly federated Nigeria with devolution of powers o the federating units, and co-ordinate and equal powers between the entral government and federating units.”
Continuing, it said: “That we endorse an increase in revenue allocation to the federating units in a way that takes cognisance of the new responsibilities and residual powers of the federating units; that in line with the principle of democratic governance, decisions at the forthcoming National Conference should be by simple majority.

“That we recommend the removal of solid minerals from the exclusive legislative list, and that the federal government must revisit the loss of Nigeria territory particularly as it relates to the loss of Bakassi peninsular. That we agree to an increment in the percentage of revenue derivation from oil and gas.”

Present at the summit were Governors of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, ayelsa, Delta, Abia, Ebonyi Enugu, Anambra, Ondo while that of Enugu was represented by the deputy governor.