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Like Ijaws, Ndigbo, Yorubas knock Buhari’s position on Nigeria’s unity

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Like Ijaws, Ndigbo, Yorubas knock Buhari's position on Nigeria's unity

Opposition has continued to mount against President Muhammadu Buhari’s position that the unity of Nigeria is settled and non-negotiable.
This was as hours after President Buhari made the statement, the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), warned that Nigeria must be re-negotiated immediately or cease to exist.

Similarly, the Yoruba Council of Elders (ACE) also on Monday insisted that Buhari must constitute a forum where every group will table its grievances and agitation for Nigeria to remain united.

ECA and ACE positions on the unity of Nigeria came just as, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, had also in earlier statement on Monday disagreed with the President Buhari on non-negotiability of Nigeria’s unity.

Buhari, who returned to Nigeria last Saturday after spending 103 days in London on a follow-up treatment, had in his first national broadcast this Monday insisted that the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable. He warned those fanning the embers of disunity to desist from such.

But in its reaction, ECA in a statement released by its secretary, Evang. Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, described Buhari’s stand as embarrassing.

He said, “The shocking position of Mr. President that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable is a confirmation that he is clearly the wrong person to govern Nigeria. Nigeria is tottering at the edge of the precipice, bursting at the seams and sitting on a combustible keg of gun powder, and Mr Buhari and his speech writers are the only people who are unaware of this self evident fact.

“If Mr. President does not immediately as a matter of urgency set up a constituent assembly to draft a new people’s constitution that will be affirmed at referendum before the end 2017 there will be no Nigeria by 2018. We also implore Mr. President to apologize to Nigerians without delay on his very provocative position on Nigeria’s very fragile unity.

“It is a tragedy that we are ruled by a man who is completely out of touch with reality. This means that the disintegration of Nigeria is inevitable, as only an early return to true fiscal federalism anchored on regional autonomy in an immediate consensual restructuring may save Nigeria now. Those who are yet to come to grip with that, are living in another world. Nigeria must be negotiated or Nigeria will die.”

In its reaction, ACF through its Secretary-General, Dr Kunle Olajide, advised Buhari against use threats, stiff legislation and force of arms to address general grievances in the country.

“The YCE is happy that Buhari is back in the country. We thank God for the restoration of his health. The nation was apprehensive and waiting anxiously to have him back and that has been put to rest.

Read also: #BreakUpNigeria: Our unity not negotiable –Buhari

“We must not forget to thank Osinbajo who steered the ship of the nation successfully while Buhari was away for so long. He must be commended for all his effort to lower political temperature in Buhari’s absence. It is our hope that the effort of Osinbajo will be sustained by Buhari.

“The president must not shy away from the fact that there is agitation from all zones in the country. Elders in the South-West must be commended for ensuring that there is calm among its youth. Don’t forget that the South-West is home to millions of unemployed youths who are educated and reasonable.

“We want to observe that general grievances cannot be addressed by threats, stiff legislation and force of arms. Buhari must constitute a forum where every group will table its grievances and agitation for Nigeria to remain united.

“If truly he has been monitoring situation at home while in London, he must have seen the hostile reaction to the National Assembly’s rejection of devolution of powers,” ACF said.

 

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