Representative Onofiok Luke has restated his belief in the unity of Nigeria but said it must be founded on “justice, equity and true federalism”.

“I am happy that the people of the South-East had a meeting with representatives of the federal government,” said the 43-year-old representing Etinan/ Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom, in the House of Representatives.

“We should not ignore the agitations of the people from the South East, we should not ignore the agitations of the people from the South West.”

Luke was the Chairman at the One-Day National Dialogue to mark 2021 Democracy Day organised by Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO) in conjunction with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs. The event held at the auditorium of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Image House, Uyo Akwa Ibom State on Friday.

The event had in attendance the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, Odiko Macdon, Director of Information, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Akwa Ibom State, James Edet and other stakeholders.

Addressing the participants, Luke (pictured 2nd left) said that to achieve unity, every segment of the society must see themselves as equal.

“When we cried of marginalisation, a President in this country in the person of Umaru Musa YarAdua listened to the cry of the people of the Niger Delta region and then made effort towards resolving the crisis of the Niger Delta region and that is why we can have peace to continue to drill oil, we continue to produce the resources that feed the entire nation,” he stated.

The former Akwa Ibom House Speaker however condemned any form of violent agitations. He said: “Let the people be asked to come and sit on the table and then express their grievances and ask for what will make for their betterment.”

Luke charged the participants go beyond talking and work towards a better Nigeria, adding “whatsoever will be the outcome of this dialogue, I want to urge CLO and the office of the SSA to the President to please push the communique of the dialogue to the different segments of the leadership of this country”.

“I am part of the policy formulators as a legislator and whatsoever ideas I am going to have here that will need legislative push, I give a commitment that if it will make for the betterment of this country, I will partner with my colleagues in the National Assembly to take the ideas you are going to espouse here and take it to the floor of the House of Representatives and begin to push agenda towards making a better country,” Luke said.