The Niger Delta Self Determination Movement (NDSDM) convened by Annkio Briggs has said that the South-South zone is not interested in producing the nation’s president in 2023 but will rather uphold the restructuring agitation.
Obinwannem News has gathered that South-South Elders Forum (SSEF) is insisting that political parties zoning their presidential tickets to aspirants from the South-South zone was a distraction.
Briggs, who was a member of the 2014 National Conference, told Newsmen that those campaigning for a South-South presidency in 2023 have a misplaced priority.
In her words: “It is a misplaced priority because the issue is not on where the presidency goes, the issue is about the way government is run in this country, and if the government continues to be run the way it is run, then I don’t see how we can move forward”
She stressed that what Nigeria requires at this point in it’s political and economic development was a restructured country where each of the federating units would explore their natural resources for the development of their people.
“What we need is a restructured Nigeria. If Nigeria is restructured, we won’t need the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North East Development Commission (NEDC) or any development commission.
“Everybody’s section will be able to access what is on their land and use it to develop their place and grow,” she said.
Briggs admonished those canvassing for the South-South to finish the second term of former President Goodluck Jonathan, not to allow themselves to be distracted by enemies of the Niger Delta, whom she referred to as the cabal.
According to her, those sponsoring the campaign deliberately want the people of the region to shift their attention from the quest for a restructured country to mundane issues like seeking the presidency in 2023.
“As a Niger Delta person, arguing about Niger Delta having another term is unnecessary. If we want a restructured Nigeria, then the issue is not whether the presidency goes to the North or South.
“The issue is for us to restructure Nigeria. In restructuring Nigeria, we will get a new constitution and we will practice fiscal federalism,” she said.
She lamented that the All Progressives Congress (APC) chose to hoodwink Nigerians by setting up a committee headed by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, to review recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, when it never intended to implement its recommendations.
Briggs said she was not surprised that the APC-led Federal Government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, was not bothered about restructuring the country, adding that it was on record that the President had declared that he was never in support of the 2014 conference and would not implement its recommendations, which included restructuring Nigeria.
Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechyere reporting, Obinwannem News
