Ekweremadu disowns Biafra, says Nigeria better together

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, may have landed a heavy blow to some people from South-East, majorly the youths, agitating for the Independence of Biafra, after he said that Nigeria is better as a united country.

Ekweremadu stated his opposition to dismembering of Nigeria in a lecture he presented in New York, entitled “Constitutionalism and the challenges of leadership in Africa: An evaluation of tested models”.

Speaking at the event which was put together by the Centre for Media and Peace Initiatives, a New York-based international non-governmental organisation, to mark the 10th anniversary of the centre, Ekweremadu said that Nigeria needed not be fragmented at this time.

He said, “There is joy in being together. There is benefit in being together. There is advantage that is conferred on us as a country by our large population. What we need is giving everybody a sense of belonging and ensuring good governance.”

Meanwhile, the senator laid emphasis on the need for Nigeria to be restructured. He argued that the current structure which allowed over-concentration of power at the centre has not been responsive to the citizenry.

“The central government that once appeared necessary and beneficent has compromised, even jeopardised its standing by perceived highhandedness, unfair treatment of some ethnic groups and abuse of power.

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“The powerful central government has made citizens vulnerable to bureaucratic manipulation and control and left them powerless, and reminded them at every turn that the promise of self-government has been eroded.

“Nigeria, and indeed African constitutions, should espouse federalism characterised by weak centres and strong federating units. Currently, Nigeria has a very powerful centre, hence the need for devolution of powers,” he said.

According to Ekweremadu, a restructured Nigeria would benefit every geo-political zone and “if we start this process, it will assure the agitators that there is hope for a better Nigeria. We must continue to assure that the best way to go is restructuring, not dismemberment of the country.”

Like Ekweremadu, the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, recently advised Igbos to forget Biafra and support the restructuring of the country.

 

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