Nigeria heading for collapse, come let’s re-negotiate now, Southern leaders tell north

Some leaders from the southern part of Nigeria have called on their northern colleagues to join them at a round table to discuss restructuring of the country to avoid the inevitable collapse now starring the country in the face.

The southern leaders maintained that the current situation of things in the country will lead to an unfortunate demise of Nigeria if not restructured in line with the provisions of 1993 Constitution.

The leaders under the aegis of the Southern Leaders Forum, stated this at a meeting in Lagos on Sunday, adding that the rejection of power devolution by the National Assembly was done in error and against popular demand.

The forum therefore resolved that they will continue to clamour on the issue of restructuring until the issue is resolved.

Leaders at the meeting were drawn from the three geopolitical zones of the South and among them were Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; a former Director General of the Department of State Service, Chief A.K Horsfall; former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof Joe Irukwu; Gen Ike Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide; Afenifere chieftain, Dr Amos Akingba and erstwhile chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw.

The communiqué reached at the end of the meeting and read by Afenifere Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said, “We do not want a Nigeria where any section will live as slaves of another, but rather we want a Nigeria where all citizens irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation are able to live their lives to the fullest and in happiness without let or hindrance.

Read also: #Quitnotice: Fear of genocide looms as unknown group aims for Igbos in hate

“We hold dearly that anyone who is opposed to this vision is an enemy of Nigeria of our dream.”
On National Assembly rejection of proposed devolution of powers, the leaders said, “Their decision reflects the deepest disregard for the popular demand for the freeing of more powers to the federating units from our shocking central government. Instead of devolving power, the National Assembly has now given us a stronger centre that will now conduct elections in local governments against extant provisions of the federalism.

“It is obvious that the National Assembly has taken itself out of the resolution of the Nigerian crisis by foreclosing devolution of power. Unknown to the lawmakers, they have unwittingly given more ammunition to self-determination forces by attempting to collapse the restructuring column in the battle for the soul of Nigeria.
“It would, however, be short-sighted for the National Assembly and their sympathisers to think this is the end of the matter. The demand for restructuring cannot end with their decisions as Nigeria has reached a terminal crisis from which it cannot recover except it is restructured.

“For emphasis, the restructuring we demand is a return to principles of federalism in Nigeria as obtained in the 1963 Constitution, which allowed the federating units to have autonomy over their local affairs to create a Nigeria that sustains the principles of fairness, equity, respect for all constituent units of Nigeria.

“We restate in clear terms that this country has gone through war once and it is not likely to survive another one. The only way therefore to have a peaceful Nigeria is to have a country based on justice and equity for all Nigerians. In order to achieve the above, there is need for sacrifices on all sides as the only insurance for peace and justice is equity. Saving Nigeria from destruction and crisis

“We, therefore, call for immediate meeting of well-meaning leaders from the South and the North to find a way to save Nigeria from destruction and crisis. An urgent return to the principles our founding fathers agreed as the basis for our independence is the only way out for Nigeria as most sectors of our country have lost faith in the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

You may also like: APC already dead under Oyegun, only awaiting burial- Frank

“Lastly, we are aware of the threat issued from the recent security meeting in Abuja where operatives of the government were issuing threats against agitators for renegotiation of the polity. We, therefore, say that such threats are not taking into account the realities on the ground.”

Meanwhile, Adebanjo has described as unfortunate the alleged statement by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo that restructuring agitators were looking for appointments.

“That is a very unfortunate statement. I would not like it to appear that we are attacking our acting president. The Acting President was born on the principle of restructuring. Myself and his father were followers of Awolowo since the 1950s.

“He (Osinbajo) cannot say we are looking for appointment, is it me or Horsfall or Gen. Ike Nwachukwu? It just shows someone in position, but does not understand the problem of the people he is leading. It is an unfortunate statement to make, I am not going to engage in a brickbats with him, it shows the limit of his knowledge of how the country came together. I think he should know better. He is not only a lawyer, he has been an Attorney-General and Vice President.”

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now