The Nigerian
Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, declared as illegal and unconstitutional, the
recent declaration of “self-government” by Ogoni people in Rivers State, just
as it faulted the Bayelsa State government for adopting its own flag,
coat-of-arm and state anthem.
The legal
body which briefed newsmen, urged the Federal Government to promptly nip such
secessionist tendencies in the bud, saying such acts were capable of fanning
the embers of separation and disunity within the federation.
NBA which
made this call on a day it enunciated modalities for its 52nd annual general
conference scheduled to hold in Abuja between August 26 and 31, 2012, stressed
that “no provision in the Constitution allows or recognises any flag other than
the Nigerian flag or any anthem different from the National anthem.”
It would be
recalled that the people of Ogoni had on August 2, declared its own political
autonomy, maintaining that the action was for “the advancement of liberty in
freedom and the preservation of the ancestral heritage of the Ogoni people.”
In a live
broadcast on a newly established radio station, “Voice of Ogoni”, president and
spokesman of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, Dr.
Goodluck Diigbo had vowed that “By this declaration of political autonomy, we,
the Ogoni people are determined to enforce the United Nations Declaration on
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, without fear or retreat.”
Diigbo
stated that “In order to make indigenous rights practicable in Ogoni, we have
through a very transparent electoral college process, beginning with community
by community elections, set up 272 village councils, while the village councils
in turn elected representatives for 33 district councils and the district
representatives went on to elect representatives to serve at the centre, as
custodians of customs and traditions, otherwise called lawmakers.
“In taking
these measures, we are quite aware of the discomfort to about 56 local
politicians that control local government politics in Ogoni; however, we care
more about the 1.2 million people that have for too long been excluded.”
He announced
that a Transitional Committee was already set up to facilitate dialogue to
ensure peaceful transition within 30 days, saying consultation with the national
government and international community had already begun.
According to
him, “we are acting with legitimacy to reclaim all of our rights, without
exception, and for the sake of peace and security; let no one test the
collective will of the Ogoni people, because we will not surrender our
indigenous rights anymore.”
In the same
vein, citing Osun State amongst others that earlier took a similar step,
Bayelsa State which is the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan, on August
8, rolled out its own flag, coat or arm and an anthem.
The Bayelsa
State government which maintained that the customized insignia and anthem would
be released immediately the law establishing them is signed by the Governor, Mr
Seriake Dickson, said “the decision was taken to forge a common identity for
the Ijaws,” saying the action was nothing different from what was obtained in
other nine states that have towed a similar path.
In a
statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson,
Governor Dickson, noted that “In line with the vision of the founding fathers
of our dearly beloved state and given this administration’s stand on Ijaw
mobilization, Ijaw integration and the need to promote Ijaw fundamental
interest, which clearly is not subordinate to any other interests, the
government of Bayelsa State has given its approval to have a state-owned emblem
to mark and strengthen our sense of identity as a state.”
The decision
according to the statement was taken after a State Executive Council meeting
that held the previous day.
Remarkably,
the move brought to 10 the number of states with known state paraphernalia with
the rest being Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Kwara, Cross River and
Rivers States.
No
region has right to self government
However,
condemning such secessionist acts, the NBA which spoke through its outgoing
national president, Chief Joseph Daudu, SAN, warned that: “it is
unconstitutional for any section of the country to seek to break away or to
engage in any act suggesting that it intends to declare self government.
“Nigeria is
a federation, if you have a jingle extolling the virtues of your state, I do
not consider such as an anthem. Jingles can extol the cultural virtues of a
state; it is not illegal for any state to promote what it does or is known for,
like farming, however, such must be done within the ambit of the law.
“What was
done by both Ogoni and Bayelsa State, to the NBA, amounts to acts of secession
that promotes separation. We should be able to differentiate between things
that promote unification of a state and things that promote isolation and
independence. The Federal Government should stand up and nip these in the bud”
it added.