PUNCH @50: Lovette Idisi speaks on advancing Niger Delta.

PUNCH @50: Lovette Idisi speaks on advancing Niger Delta.

by Felix Ekwu

Chief Lovette Idisi, the Executive Assistant on FCT Abuja Liaison to the Delta State Governor has canvassed strongly for a paradigm shift from the Dependency Theory in dealing with some issues plaguing the Niger Delta region in particular and the Nigeria State in general.

Idisi stated this as part of his goodwill message as a representative of the Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori at the public lecture titled, ‘Recovering the Narrative’, organised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of PUNCH Nigeria Limited.

He bemoaned the current situation where crude oil explored from the Niger Delta is exported and the refined products imported into the country due to the collapse of the nation’s refineries.

The former member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives noted that there is now a huge loss of jobs and lack of related investments as a result of the comatose refineries in Warri and Port Harcourt which ought to be an economic boost to the region and the nation in general.

He called for speedy revamping of the refineries urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to be more realistic in its commitment to chart a positive direction for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The former federal lawmaker urged the Tinubu government to seriously consider directing the multi-national oil and gas companies to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta as a major step to tackling the underdevelopment of the region.

According to Idisi, their relocation is long overdue especially as peace has returned to the Niger Delta and the people are yearning to see on ground development projects proportionate to their contributions to the nation’s wealth of the country.

“I wish the Punch newspaper which we have known over the years for giving punches to real issues that affect our daily lives,” said Idisi.

In his remarks during the public lecture, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, posited that previous national conferences organised to address the challenges facing Nigeria were deceitful, saying the exercises were merely held to pacify aggrieved Nigerians.

L-R: Representative of Enugu State Governor/Commissioner for Information, Eze Aka; Founder, The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Dr Toyin Saraki; Former Minister of Industry, Mrs Nike Akande; Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited, Mrs Angela Emuwa; Guest Lecturer, Prof Wole Soyinka; Wife of the Chairman Emeritus, Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief (Mrs) Iyabo Ogunshola; Chairman Emeritus, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola; Representative of the President/Minister of Information and National orientation, Mohammed Malagi; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele; representative of Delta State Governor, Hon Lovette Idisi; Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Punch Nigeria Limited, Mr Adeyeye Joseph; and Director, Mrs Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, at the PUNCH 50th anniversary lecture in Lagos…on Thursday. Photo: Saheed Olugbon

Soyinka said decentralisation was key for the country to be self-sufficient in food production noting that past national conferences about the decentralisation of Nigeria were mere distractions and charades, saying they came with the organisers having different agendas in mind.

According to the Nobel laureate the word ‘restructuring’ refused to disappear, despite evasion by one elected leader after another, even as it meant different things for different people.

However, he said some politicians were afraid of restructuring as they interpreted it to mean the dissolution of the country.

As a result, Soyinka said he preferred to use expressions like reconfiguration and decentralisation instead of restructuring.

“When the word restructuring is booted around, we often have the challenge, what do you mean by restructuring? Well, I don’t even like the word restructuring, I prefer the expressions like reconfiguration, decentralisation. And those who lead us, they recognise the necessity of it, they recognise the importance and almost the inevitability of decentralisation until they get in power".

Founded in March 1973, PUNCH, Nigeria’s foremost newspaper, clocked 50 on March 18 last year, but its board of directors moved the 50th-anniversary celebration to this year because the anniversary month fell within an election month and year.

The weeklong 50th-anniversary celebrations and 40th remembrance of the passing of the Founding Chairman, Chief Olu Aboderin, the Parakoyi of Ibadanland, began last Saturday with a colourful novelty football match at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.