BY DAPO AKINREFON
THE Professor Pat Utomi-led United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, UNDEDSS, has asked for a brand new constitution premised on regional autonomy or confederalism.

The group said that “it is becoming clearer, observing the National Conference play out by the day, that certain forces of feudalism and stagnation are fixated with perpetually entrenching this status quo of corruption, injustice, inequity and regression on the Nigerian peoples.

“We the leaders and peoples of the Niger Delta hereby declare unequivocally that we will resist any attempt to bring about regime-change by any means outside the extant electoral laws of Nigeria, and will settle for nothing less than the creation of a new constitution for Nigeria, where confederalism/regional autonomy is enthroned.”

Addressing newsmen, UNDEDSS scribe, Mr. Tony Uranta, noted that “apparently, some Northern leaders, for example, do not believe in the genuineness of purpose on the part of the chief convener of the Confab; rather they have taken the view that it is a ploy by the President ‘to confiscate all revenue accruing from oil exploitations’ for the Niger Delta without going through the process of constitution amendment and, the North clearly believes that the present structure of quasi-federalism should remain. In other words, that Nigeria should maintain the status quo.

“Everybody has a right to his or her opinions, but, the Niger Delta knows that Mr. President has only altruistic objectives regarding the conference, and that Nigeria is in dire need of a holistic restructuring; just as the Niger Delta applauds Confab delegate, Ms. Annkio Briggs’, decision to distance herself from the Devolution Committee Report that showed no progressive thought.”