N’Delta elder statesman wants Nigeria restructured into six nations

An elder statesman and renowned activist in the Niger Delta, Sokari Soberekon, has called for the restructuring of Nigeria into six autonomous nations as a way forward from the challenges confronting the country.

Soberekon made the call in an exclusive interview with South-South PUNCH in Port Harcourt, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited a sick nation and needs to borrow a leave from the British system of government to fix things.

The retired solder-turned activist said, “Tinubu inherited a sick nation and all we need is to assist him to build the nation. I’m suggesting restructuring Nigeria into six zones, six nations, as you have four nations in Great Britain, known as the United Kingdom, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and England. We should go six now, and then do great work.

“He should restructure this country to six autonomous nations with six presidents with rotating two-year tenure in the office for 12 years.”

He explained further, “On the billboard out there in front of my house, you see South-East is for the Igbo states South-South is the other group.”

And then South-West is the Yoruba group, where Tinubu will contest for a second tenure. And then you go to the northern area, North-Central, North-East, and North-West est. And that’s their name. And each of them will produce one, president each. The six of them will form the Presidential Ruling Council with their Vice Presidents. So whenever they are leaving to Calabar to take their two-year rotating presidency, the Vice President will be on the seat at home, guarding the home for him.

“The Lord just gave me that idea. It will help this country. They will be in office for 12 years. So, each one will go for two, two years at the centre for the six nations will take their two years, will give us twelve years. At the end of that, there can be a new election.

“There are six presidents to rule in their zone. That’s six of them are there for twelve years. And they will be going in two years to the centre, at Calabar, as the President General, who will even travel abroad, United Nations, who will announce their decision.

“He’s not a dictator, he’s a spokesman, he’s a man on the throne for 12 years. He will travel to represent Nigeria. From one of the zones will go in there, like that, rotate. Like if Atiku is the president of his zone and it’s his turn, he will come to Calabar from Abuja, Aso Rock.  Aso Rock is a Northern state; governors will control that place. While the Lagos State House will be for the South. So like that, South in, South out, West in, West out, North in, North out, like that, in and out, everybody will be President.”

The activist also called for resource control, saying, “Then, resource control. Everybody will pay tax to the centre. Control what you have and then pay tax to the centre, the state will pay tax to the federal. The local government will pay tax to the state government. Not cash and carry and go, no. So many people say, even in the local government election, they say you chop, I chop. This is not time for chopping, it’s time for working. I’ll be very glad if we can understand this.”

He said that Nigeria should be renamed Oloibiri to pay homage to the community where oil was first discovered in the country.

He enthused, “And then we should change our name to Oloibiri, for over 68 years, Oloibiri has been producing oil to sustain this country. Not even one power pole exists in Oloibiri up till now. President Muhammad Buhari promised to open an oil museum, he didn’t even do foundation there and he did not hand over to Tinubu. So, Oloibiri is just abandoned. So to compensate these people we should rename Nigeria, Oloibiri.”