The controversy over the restructuring of Nigeria has continued with Afenifere, the Yoruba socio- political group, asking northern leaders opposed to restructuring not to hold the country hostage.
The group’s position came on the heels of the support for restructuring from former military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, who said, last week, that the Nigerian federation, as currently structured, needs reform that will emphasise the individual strength and advantages of the component units so that governments can really work to improve the lives of Nigerians..
Before then, former VP Atiku Abubakar, also a northerner, had also expressed his support for restructuring. Among northerners opposed to restructuring, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, on Thursday, described those advocating for the idea as opportunists. Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo spoke on a day the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie – Oyegun said he did not know what the proponents of restructuring mean, saying they should not armtwist him to use a confusing terminology which means different things to Nigerians.
Afenifere, while welcoming Babangida and Atiku’s intervention on the restructuring debate, yesterday, urged northern leaders still opposed the idea to take a cue.
It noted that the fact that Babangida and Atiku had spoken in favour of the idea means that not all northern leaders are against restructuring. The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr Yinka Odumakin, told newsmen “We welcome their intervention, IBB, especially.
We remember Babangida was opposed to restructuring in 1999 when we held a national conference with the late Mr. Alao Aka-Bashorun,we were flogged out of the place. For him now to come to reality to say we have to restructure, and to have spoken those words, and to break it down the way he has done, shows that he has realized the mistakes of those years and that it is the right thing to do. We welcome him, he is a critical voice and he has added value to it.
“For Atiku Abubakar, he has been consistent on restructuring over the years, right from when he was in office. We have noted his intervention for over ten years. He has added value to the debate, he has removed the notion that not everybody in the North is against restructuring. “So, the two of them have added value to the debate.
They have shown clearly that those of us, who have been talking about restructuring, know what we are saying and they have confirmed our position that it is the right thing to do. “We know that those who oppose restructuring are doing so for their selfish interest cannot see the larger picture and do not care about the future of this country. But those who can see that this country is in danger, and that we have moved to edge of the precipice and we need to arrest the drift, are the critical voices from the North who are speaking loudly for restructuring now. We welcome their intervention and see them are co-citizens who want to save this country from disintegration.”
On those still opposed to restructuring, he added: “They should join the train for us to rescue this country. Everybody can see that there are danger signals. Nigeria is gradually becoming a failed state.. We just have to restructure to bring about inclusiveness to governance. This will bring about an era of prosperity all over Nigeria because that is the most important aspect of restructuring.
The idea of restructuring is to move from us from scarcity to abundance, it is scarcity that is causing all the fighting in the land.” On its part, Ohanaeze Nidigbo, the dominant Igbo socio-political group, is believed to align with the Afenifere’s position that the North cannot continue to block the agitation to restructure Nigeria if it was to move forward.
Although the President General of the group, Dr Nnia Nwodo, could not be reached, a source close to the group cited a former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd), as conveying the message to Afenifere and the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). “Ohanaeze Ndigbo is in support of what other Nigerians are saying.
We cannot be different. Ohanaeze is thinking along the same line; that Nigeria must be restructured. We are on the same page with them”, the spokesman for Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who preferred anonymity said, yesterday. Late into the night, Igbo leaders, comprising state governors and legislators, were in a closed-door meeting in Enugu to hold further talks on the state of the nation. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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This makes sense
ReplyDeleteMasquerades running government since I was born. All interests across the divides are not in the best interest of the common men. Everyone looking critically at the position of the national cake and fighting seriously to reposition themselves for the good of their pockets and their generations unborn. I feel greatly sad for the masses as the economy pressure has taken away the sense of pride and the will for a sustainable survival approach to life. The heartless elites got us to where we are today and still at the strong dictate of the direction for our future using the same masses highly suffered to achieve their selfish interests. OOOH NAIJA MY BELOVED COUNTRY.....WAKE UP!
ReplyDeleteWHAT NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS NEED IS RESTRUCTURING, DERIVATION, DEVOLUTION OF POWERS, FISCAL FEDERALISM AND NOT THIS DISTORTED FEEDING BOTTLE FEDERALISM THAT BENEFITS ONLY THE ELITES OF ALL THE ETHNIC GROUPS ALTHOUGH THOSE FROM THE NORTH GETS THE LION SHARE WHERE as the source of revenue comes from the Niger Delta. Enough of this imbalance and poverty in the midst of plenty. Even the masses and almajiris from the north should embrace this and support it as they will gain more from it. Jay 2, Abuja.
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ReplyDeleteI don't think if really some Nigeria have any ideas what really restructuring means, now that the federal level still hold power all. and some state governors can not pay salaries and no federal level can force them to pay salaries. and if power is now given to state governors who are they afraid of to force them to pay. I think we should know what we want before it consumes us. I am not against restructuring.
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