Makarfi disagrees with Oyegun, El-Rufai, says nothing wrong with restructuring

The chairman of Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Friday disagreed with All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership on restructuring of Nigeria.

According to Senator Makarfi, there was nothing wrong with the restructuring of Nigeria. He however added that there is need for people to understand and agree on what nature of restructuring Nigeria required.

Senator Makarfi’s position on the subject came a day after APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai opposed the matter. They said that restructuring of Nigeria as being canvased by many was not an immediate agenda of the ruling party.

El-Rufai even branded those in support of restructuring as hypocrites and irresponsible.

He argued that some of the people making such calls kept silent on the subject when they were in power, apparently referring to former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, who recently supported the call, and ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, who has for long been calling for restructuring.

But Senator Makarfi, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s morning programme, Sunrise Daily on Friday, cautioned that “leaders should not assume that they know it all and decide for the people.”

He said, “My position is that we need to sit down and talk. What type of restructuring do we really require, so that we can agree on that as a first step.

“Agreed we have 2014 National Conference Report but this new agitation on restructuring, we are in support of it in principle but we should understand and agree on what nature of restructuring Nigeria requires.”

On the unity of Nigeria, Makarfi said that there is nothing that cannot be negotiated, but that in doing that “we need to look at how the country is structured.”

Meanwhile, Makarfi argued that since Nigeria is one country that there was no need for those agitating for a referendum.

“So far we have one country, what is the referendum going to be about. We are generally confused about what we may be looking for.

“There are different kinds of referendum, you can have referendum for different purpose, some have required that even constitution amendment should be subject to referendum.

“But a referendum about the break up of the country is what the generality of Nigerians have said no to.”

Read also: APC: We won’t restructure Nigeria now, agitators are hypocrites, irresponsible

He said that the PDP believed that Nigeria should remain one united country, that is just, fair and equitable to all parts of the country.

“But that should not wish away any kind of agitation from any quarters. However, any agitation coming from any quarter should be lawful, done with decorum.”

Makarfi also spoke on the present tension in Nigeria arising from the agitation for Biafra by South-East groups and the quit notice to Ndigbo in the North by Arewa youths.

He said on the matter, “I’m not in support of the northern youth, but the way Nnamdi Kanu is holding people economic hostage is not found in any part of the country”.

He also commended the recent position of Igbo leadership that Kanu cannot speak for the people.

 

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