{"id":28496,"date":"2023-04-21T10:52:07","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T10:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=28496"},"modified":"2023-04-21T12:04:16","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T12:04:16","slug":"restructuring-is-key-to-prosperity-transformation-nigerias-federating-units-prof-darah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=28496","title":{"rendered":"Restructuring is Key to Prosperity, Transformation of Nigeria&#8217;s Federating Units &#8211; Prof. Darah"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/alternativeadvert.com\/show.php?z=30&amp;pl=19271&amp;ad_type=81&amp;rl=1800\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Professor G.G. Darah, the erudite professor of Oral Literature, Folklore and Cultural Sciences has said that the most significant changes that will transform Nigeria&#8217;s federating units such as Uvwie and Urhobo is political restructuring of Nigeria.<\/p>\n<p>In a keynote address at a colloquium at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun on Uvwie: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow to mark the 15th coronation adversary of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso, Abe 1, JP. OON, Professor Darah regretted that like other oil-rich districts of Urhobo and the Niger Delta, Uvwie has been reduced to an economic colony of Nigeria.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For over 50 years the people of Uvwie have offered a conducive<br \/>\natmosphere for businesses and investors to thrive and prosper.<br \/>\nThe Federal Government of Nigeria and multinational oil<br \/>\ncompanies are the biggest beneficiaries of the prosperity.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Regrettably, the people of Uvwie have become landless and<br \/>\nimpoverished. Like other oil-rich districts of Urhobo and the Niger<br \/>\nDelta, Uvwie has been reduced to an economic colony of Nigeria.<br \/>\nThis situation of exploitation should not be allowed to continue.<br \/>\nThe instruments for a fairer and more equitable engagement<br \/>\nshould be fashioned to enable Uvwie people to become<br \/>\nsubstantial shareholders in the businesses and industries.<br \/>\nTherefore, fresh memoranda of understanding should be<br \/>\nprepared to equip Uvwie people to own controlling shares in the<br \/>\nexisting and future enterprises.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In the light of emerging consensus on public economic ventures,<br \/>\ngiant industries like the Refinery, Petrochemicals Plant, and the<br \/>\nNigerian Gas Company are likely to be available for privatization.<br \/>\nUrhobo\/Uvwie investors must be allocated substantial shares in<br \/>\nthe privatized enterprises<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For equity and justice, the policies on local content must be<br \/>\nimplemented in all the public industries and institutions such that<br \/>\nthe relevant cadres of personnel must be reserved for<br \/>\nUvwie\/Urhobo host communities. For example, about 75% of<br \/>\nemployment of middle level and non-technical cadre should be<br \/>\nreserved for locals. The tertiary institutions &#8211; PTI and FUPRE &#8211; must<br \/>\nallocate agreed admission spaces for Uvwie citizens.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Having lost much of the land to industries and government<br \/>\ninstitutions, Uvwie people can no longer practise subsistence<br \/>\nagriculture. Yet they have their natural right to enjoy sustainable<br \/>\nand decent livelihoods. The Uvwie people should now design a<br \/>\ndevelopment master plan to consolidate the status of an industrial<br \/>\nsociety in which they can thrive and prosper. An Uvwie<br \/>\nInvestment and Development Corporation (UIDC) should be<br \/>\nregistered to work out the strategies of how Uvwie\/Urhobo<br \/>\npeople can become self-reliant and dominant in certain fields of<br \/>\nenterprise. The UIDC will engage governments and financing<br \/>\ninstitutions such as the Bank of Industries, African Development<br \/>\nBank and international agencies that fund economic projects. In<br \/>\norder to generate capital to finance enterprise, it is necessary to<br \/>\nestablish an Uvwie Bank for Commerce and Industry. The shares<br \/>\ncan open to other Urhobo kingdoms, friends and associates of<br \/>\nUvwie.<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; Many of the goods sold in Uvwie and Urhobo markets are<br \/>\nproduced in other states. This condition of dependency should be<br \/>\nchallenged. Deliberate plans should be made to identify<br \/>\nconsumable goods and services that must be manufactured in<br \/>\nUvwie\/Urhobo land to stimulate economic growth, employment<br \/>\nopportunities, and wealth. For example, there could be \u201cEffurun<br \/>\nsoaps and detergents\u201d, \u201cEkpan packaged garri and starch\u201d,<br \/>\n\u201cUgbomro Gins and Beverages\u201d, \u201cUgborikoko Vegetable Oils\u201d, etc.<br \/>\nIn the viable field of catering services, enterprising Uvwie people<\/p>\n<p>can develop food brands such as \u201cUkodo Plaza\u201d, \u201cAmiedi<br \/>\nAssembly\u201d, \u201cOghwo-Evwri Palace\u201d etc. The patronage of these<br \/>\ndelicacies will further promote Urhobo cultural image.<br \/>\n\uf02a With the current pressure on land, space for industries and<br \/>\nfactories can be obtained by negotiating with churches to offer<br \/>\nsections of their premises.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The churches will be co-owners and<br \/>\nshareholders in the enterprises. Similarly, new housing policies<br \/>\nshould be developed in favour of high-rise structures of ten floors<br \/>\nand above; this is the trend in all modern metropolis in the world.<br \/>\nIn the next ten years and beyond, fossil fuels for automobiles<br \/>\nmight give way to electric vehicles. This development will lead to<br \/>\nthe shutdown of many petrol service stations. Their premises will<br \/>\nbe useful for industries, factories, and shopping plazas. The<br \/>\nproblem of congested inter-city motorways will be reduced with<br \/>\nthe introduction of metro line mass transit systems. That is when<br \/>\nEffurun\/Warri and environs will assume the status of a metropolis.<br \/>\nIn the next decade or so, an international wing of the Osubi<br \/>\nAirport will be built; this will upgrade the area to an aeropolis,<br \/>\nthat is, a city dependent on aviation economy.<\/p>\n<p>Professor Darah said the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation would entail<br \/>\nthe devolution of political, economic, and security powers to the<br \/>\nfederating units or states.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The federating units or states will have<br \/>\n100% ownership\/ control over their natural and other resources. The<br \/>\nstates will pay a negotiated tax to the central government to run<br \/>\nessential public services. In the restructuring project, each state will<br \/>\nhave its own constitution. In the constitution of each state, the<br \/>\nprinciples of restructuring will also be entrenched. Each local<br \/>\ngovernment or kingdom will enjoy the right of 100% ownership and<br \/>\ncontrol of its natural resources and revenues and pay a negotiated<br \/>\ntax to the state government. Thus, restructuring will end the<br \/>\ntotalitarian and exploitative control of the federal government over the federating units; in the same manner, restructuring will put an<br \/>\nend to the autocratic and exploitative power of states over local<br \/>\ncouncils. Uvwie and other resource-endowed areas will benefit from<br \/>\nthe restructuring of the Nigerian federation. These democratisation<br \/>\nprocesses will create a more equitable and just federation. Richly<br \/>\nendowed municipalities like Uvwie\/Effurun will have funds to engage<br \/>\nin large-scale industrial enterprises, manufacturing, education,<br \/>\ncultural preservation, security, housing, health, and other social<br \/>\nservices.<\/p>\n<p>In a paper presented by Mr. Daro Ejumudo which dealt extensively on the origin of the Uvwie people, he celebrated Abe I and described him as a symbol of change and positive transformation is Uvwie kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;His reign has ushered in greater peace and innovations. A world class palace,<br \/>\nbefitting the Uvwie people was built during his reign. Like the Roman god, Janus,<br \/>\nhe continues to look in opposite directions, drawing inspiration from the Uvwie<br \/>\npast to promote a glorious future.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The throne under him has remained a force of cohesion, binding together the<br \/>\nfissiparous tendencies and social groups that inhere in every robust society, even<br \/>\none as homogenous as the Uvwie kingdom. He radiates the grandeur and dignity<br \/>\nof the kingdom and a source of inspiration and unity for the kingdom. Endowed<br \/>\nwith wisdom courage and integrity, he is the embodiment of the culture and<br \/>\ntradition of the people.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;But like the theme of this colloquium: Uvwie: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,<br \/>\nthe Ovie is also clearly focused on the future, promoting education at all levels to<br \/>\ngive opportunity to the underprivileged. There is no one more prepared and<br \/>\nequipped to lead the Uvwie people to a brighter future.<\/p>\n<p>In his paper, the Wado City advocate, Dr. Ejiro Imuere warned on the long time implication of calling Urhoblo towns, Warri and that it would lead to diminishing the Urhobo nation with the largest population in Delta state.<\/p>\n<p>Prof. Rose Aziza lamented the marginalization of women in most Urhobo communities and the need for a review. Chief Assin Godstime lamented the low representation of some Urhobo communities including Uvwie in the political equilibrium in Delta state while Chief Hope Erute in a paper commended the late Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Eruowho 11 and reigning monarch for their contribution to modern Uvwie emancipation. The moderator of the event was Prof. (Chief) Joe Abugu(SAN) a specialist in Company Securities and Secured Credit Transactions. He has consulted in several capacities in public issues and private.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in an opening speak, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso narrated his desired to have a concise history of the Uvwie people and that the colloquium was just a stepping stone to achieve his aim.<\/p>\n<p>The colloquium committee chairman, Chief Omafume Amurun announced that details of the colloquium is expected to be published as a compendium for further study on the history of the Uvwie people.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/alternativeadvert.com\/show.php?z=30&amp;pl=19271&amp;ad_type=81&amp;rl=1800\" width=\"336\" height=\"280\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Professor G.G. Darah, the erudite professor of Oral Literature, Folklore and Cultural Sciences has said that the most significant changes that will transform Nigeria&#8217;s federating units such as Uvwie and Urhobo is political restructuring of Nigeria. In a keynote address at a colloquium at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun on Uvwie: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":28497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[5674,6088,5681,2036,6087,5901],"class_list":["post-28496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","category-state","tag-chief-omafume-amurun","tag-dr-ejiro-imuere","tag-hrm-emmanuel-sideso","tag-ovie-of-uvwie-kingdom","tag-prof-g-g-darah","tag-professor-joseph-abugu"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0-e1682073518705.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4oswh-7pC","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28496"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28502,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28496\/revisions\/28502"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}