An ethnic group in Delta State, under the umbrella of Okpe Union, has called for a better structure for Nigerian federalism, advocating for the devolution of legislative and governmental powers to the component units.
The union’s president general, Professor Igho Natufe, made this known in a State of the Union Address.
According to Natufe, the Okpe Union is working closely with other indigenous ethnic nationalities and national organisations, including the Movement for National Reformation (MNR), to craft a new path for the restoration of federalism and good governance in Nigeria.
“Okpe is one of the more than 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities that constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
”These indigenous ethnic nationalities, including Okpe, are the core federating units of Nigeria. Thus, like other indigenous ethnic nationalities, Okpe has a voice in determining the future of Nigeria, ” Natufe said.
The Union proposed the creation of homogeneous federating states for the 15 most populous ethnic nationalities with contiguous boundaries.
“These federating units will be 15 homogeneous ethnic-based states for the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Okpe, and Tiv, among others.”
It also called for the creation of a maximum of 15 heterogeneous (multi-ethnic) federating states for other ethnic nationalities.
The Union further suggested that an ethnic nationality occupying a defined contiguous boundary in a heterogeneous state should constitute an autonomous region with due constitutional jurisdictions.
“It shall also have concurrent jurisdiction with the heterogeneous state over natural resources discovered in its territory; but shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over primary and secondary education, culture, language, and traditional institutions, etc, ” the Union also said.
The Union also urged the Federal Government not to politicise the outcomes of the proposed National Population Census.
“Okpe Union calls for the proposed National Population Census to be conducted by employing best technology to avoid a repeat of the past where the outcomes were so politicised that many of the exercises did not command the confidence of many parts of the country and Nigerians as to their credibility, ” it added.
The Union also advocated for the establishment of state police to address security challenges in the country.
