CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW:
WHICH BODY REPRESENTS IGALA INTEREST AS SUBMISSION OF MEMORANDA ENDS APRIL 10TH?
By ONOJA J. OKPANACHI
There was a scenario in the old Benue State where the Igala Kingdom had multiple groups/organizations representing her interest(s) when other ethnic nationalities at the forum came organized with only one body each. That story is very long but surely, not a good one.
Many years later, has the situation changed, and can the nation today have one body to represent the people’s interests with a harmonized memoranda? We have so many groups and organizations which ordinarily should be to our advantage if the various bodies can pick an area of strength and hold onto it for the good of the people and then harmonize when there is a need for a common united front just as it’s needed now by the call from the National Assembly for various ethnic nationalities in the federation to submit memoranda for consideration ahead of the constitutional review.
This review has many areas of interest that the people should contribute to as they will help a great deal. The focus areas range from Public Revenue, State Creation, Nigeria Police, Judiciary Reform, Electoral Reform, Socio-economic Rights, Indigeneship, State access to mining, principles of equity, and many more. And, the call is to groups, associations, ethnic nationalities et al to submit memoranda so all could be reviewed for a holistic review of the constitution.
Gradually, the deadline for submission is drawing nearer and it’s my sincere appeal that the various interest groups in the land coordinate with the Ata Igala Palace, harmonize, and come out with a common front. Also, our representatives at the National Assembly should be involved like all other stakeholders so that at the end, the presentation and results after that should be what we desire as a people.
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