Kelechi Asogwa-Amadi
An elder statesman and non-partisan activist in Rivers State, Rev. Dr Sokari Soberekon, has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari to remove the military rank of Nigeria’s ex-head of state, Late Gen. Sani Abacha, for corruption and abuse of office.
Rev. Dr Sokari Soberekon, a Senior Advocate of the Niger Delta, who advocated for and convinced former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1981 to approve oil derivation fund for the oil-producing states after late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former leader of UPN (Unity Party of Nigeria) and late Prof. Ambrose Ali failed to achieve that through the court, said that de-ranking Abacha will serve as a deterrent to retired, serving and future generals in the army rank and file.
He commended President Buhari for honouring Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola post-humously as a hero of democracy.
According to him, the looting of Nigeria’s treasury by Abacha has been confirmed by a British Court, adding that the British government should not return the money to the Nigerian government but should give it to the British Red Cross to come with relief materials to save lives and alleviate poverty in the neglected oil-producing areas, especially the Niger Delta, and other parts of Nigeria.
“The federal government is now busy with Ogoni Clean-up. The British government should not give the Nigerian government the money but should give it to the British Red Cross to come with relief materials to save lives and alleviate poverty in the under-developed and neglected oil-producing areas of Nigeria, mostly Oguta in Imo State, Oloibiri in Bayelsa State, Bonny, Kalabari, Ogoni, Umuechem and other oil hosting communities in Nigeria. They should make Oloibiri the capital of Nigeria to develop the area. If they could make Calabar, Lagos and Abuja capitals, they can also make Oloibiri capital.
“Nigeria is a member of the Commonwealth. Also, historical treaties were signed between Great Britain and the Bonny Kingdom as well as the Kalabari Kingdom that enabled the British imperialists to penetrate into Nigeria and grant us independence in 1960, which is another reason why they should use the money to develop the oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta,” he said.
According to Dr Soberekon, the treaty between Great Britain and the Bonny Kingdom was captioned: “Treaty with Great Britain and Bonny, 25th January, 1836” while that between Great Britain and Kalabari Kingdom (New Calabar) was captioned: “Treaty between Great Britain and New Calabar,” adding that both treaties were gazetted.
“This made Calabar the protectorate capital of Nigeria where the British were protected before leaving for Lagos,” he explained.
He added that independence was granted after much agitation by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Harold Dappa Biriye of Bonny Kingdom and Chief G.K.G. Amachree of Kalabari Kingdom.
“I must thank Great Britain for making us know the English alphabet, the Bible, football and other good things but there will be more thanks for them if the Abacha loot is used to save lives and develop the Niger Delta that signed them into Nigeria,” he said.
He advised the governors of the Niger Delta region not to use their states’ money to do federal projects however neglected by the federal government their states may be.
He called on President Buhari to restructure Nigeria to six geopolitical zones which he said will make Nigeria a great and united nation just as Great Britain has four kingdoms – England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales- adding that it will make Nigeria achieve the respect from other nations.
“No one can eat a loaf of bread decently without slicing it. Just amend our constitution and restructure; it is nation-building. Former South African president, Dr Nelson Mandela once said that the world will not respect Africa until Nigeria earns that respect. The black people of the world need Nigeria to be great as a source of pride and confidence,” he said.
