Prof Igho Natufe, President General of the Okpe Union, has expressed concern over the concentration of seaports in Lagos, stating that it grants overwhelming power to the Yoruba and South West region.
“From the perspective of the Okpe Nation and the Niger Delta region, the concentration of seaports around Lagos grants overwhelming power to the Yoruba and the entire South West region of Nigeria,” he said.
He spoke at the 94th anniversary of the Okpe Union in Lagos, highlighting the underutilization of Calabar, Port Harcourt, Sapele, and Warri seaports, which are closer to Asia than Lagos.
Natufe urged President Bola Tinubu to revive these neglected seaports, emphasizing the need for a balanced distribution of power. “It makes no sense to concentrate Nigeria’s import-export business in only the Lagos seaports,” he stressed.
He criticized Okpe politicians for their poor performance in attracting businesses to the region, unlike their Isoko counterparts. “It must be acknowledged that, since the establishment of Delta State in 1991, Okpe political leaders have performed very poorly in attracting businesses to Okpe Nation.”
To address the situation, Natufe called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to improve infrastructure in Delta State, especially in Okpe Nation, and create an attractive environment for investors.
“An environment where an investor has to provide electricity, water, and good roads is hardly conducive for economic growth and development,” he noted.
He also emphasized the need for the Okpe Union to continue advocating for investments and partnering with other organizations for development.
Additionally, Natufe addressed the country’s insecurity, calling for the evacuation of Fulani herdsmen, bandits, and terrorists from indigenous territories.
“We call on the federal government to take immediate actions to evacuate Fulani herdsmen, bandits, and terrorists from the territories of the indigenous ethnic nationalities across Nigeria.”
He advocated for a round table conference to address the existential crisis and ensure the safety of all ethnic nationalities through a renewed federal constitution.
The Okpe Nation is committed to working with other ethnic nationalities to restructure Nigeria, ensuring justice, fairness, and equity.
“We, Okpe, have no secessionist intentions. But, we recognize that the Nigerian edifice is cracked and haemorrhaging. We are committed to working with other ethnic nationalities in restructuring the Nigerian edifice to guarantee the safety of all indigenous ethnic nationalities, on the basis of justice, fairness and equity, where our rights are recognized and protected under a renewed federal constitution.”
However, he warned that if the Nigerian edifice disintegrates, they hope it is through a peaceful process like Czechoslovakia’s, rather than a violent one like Yugoslavia’s.
“However, if by omission or commission, the Nigerian edifice disintegrates, we pray it is via the velvet model of Czechoslovakia and not via the Yugoslav variant.”
