Pat Utomi, a professor of
political economy, says some politicians in the north are afraid of
restructuring because they are uncertain about where it will lead them.
Speaking at a virtual media
parley ahead of the ‘Never Again’ conference to mark 51 years after the civil
war, Utomi said the north largely relies on the federal government for their
share of revenue, which “has made them really unproductive”.
“There is a real crisis in the
north that the south does not understand. They are painters of people who hate
each other very much; that is the truth of the matter. That is why they are
scared of restructuring because they don’t know where it will lead them, and
outside of Nigeria, they are formless; there is no north,” he said.
Utomi, however, urged northerners
to dismiss such fears, saying restructuring will help them “become productive
and move away from the poverty status”.
The professor also announced the
second edition of the ‘Never Again’ conference, which he said will feature
Matthew Kukah, bishop of Sokoto Catholic diocese, as the keynote addresser,
while former President Olusegun Obasanjo will be the special guest of honour.
He added that the conference will
be chaired by Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere leader, and Kalu Idika Kalu, a former
finance minister.
“It is recalled that Nigeria
fought a bitter and internecine 30-month civil war that left in its wake a
sharply divided nation with mutual suspicion, hatred and resentment across
racial and regional lines. An estimated one million victims were killed
immediately before and during the war,” he said
“The conference will x-ray the
issues that led to the civil war and the need for patriots to work together to
achieve national cohesion, especially in light of several centrifugal
tendencies within the polity.”
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