RESTRUCTURING: Atiku says reasonable human beings don’t fear negotiation

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has again supported calls for the restructuring of Nigeria, saying that reasonable human beings are never afraid of negotiation.

This was even as he said that restructuring the country will be in the interest of the North in particular and the country in general.

The former Nigerian Vice President stated this on Monday in Abuja at the launch of a book entitled: “The Nigerian Federalism; Continuing the Quest for Stability and Nation Building’’ written by some federalism scholars in the African Policy Research Institute.

The book was edited by Mr Okechukwu Ibeanu and Alhaji Mohammad Kuna.

Atiku who described the book as an important intervention, said it would contribute to the restructuring debate in the country, adding, that structure and practice of Nigerian federalism had been a major discussion and debates right from the time the North and South protectorates were amalgamated in 1914.

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While Atiku acknowledge that the opinions of different sections of the country on the topic were all legitimate, he wondered why anyone would argue that the country`s unity could not be renegotiated.

He said, “As a democrat and businessman I do not fear negotiations. That is what reasonable human beings do. This is even more important if a stubborn resistance against negotiations can lead to unsavoury outcomes.

“I have spoken a number of times on the need to restructure our federation in order to devolve more power and resources to the federating units.”

President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has continue to ignore calls from many Nigerians for the restructuring of Nigeria and has insisted that the unity of the country is non-negotiable.

 

 

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