By Ikenna Uwadileke
A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Henry Ufongo (Bayelsa-PDP) on Tuesday in Abuja identified restructuring as major solution to current agitations threatening the country’s unity.
Ufongo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that the agitations had created tension in the polity and had put fear and confusion in some families.
He, therefore, said that those fanning the embers of disunity and secession agenda would have a rethink if the demands for restructuring were met.
He urged youths in the country to refrain from over-heating the polity as it was capable of sending wrong signals to the international community.
According to the lawmaker, this situation is unhealthy for the country and is capable of scaring away investors.
“I believe that majority of Nigerians are in support of restructuring and I think that the concept of restructuring is being misunderstood by those who are against it.
“It is basically about how there is over centralisation of economic and political power at the centre, which has rendered every other component state unable to do anything.
“This is because since you are concentrating all our efforts on oil, neglecting every other resource that every region and state has, states come cap-in-hand to ask for money from the Federal Government.
“I think that is the bane of our problem. Of course, foreign investors will want to look at areas where they know there is convincing business atmosphere,’’ he said.
Ufongo, however, added that the present situation in the country where there was clamour for secession and ultimatum given to people to quit could send unfavourable signals to the international community.
“I am not talking about regionalism; we can still remain as the 36 states structure with the federation and the fear of people not getting anything should be out of it.
“I think the basic thing is the over-centralisation of economic and political powers at the centre,’’ he said
NAN
