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RESTRUCTURING: North won’t be intimidated into abandoning its core interests, NEF warns

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As the issue of restructuring Nigeria continues to dominate national discourse, the Northern Elders Forum has said that the North is open for dialogue. It however warned that the region will oppose being stampeded by other parts of Nigeria to adopt an agenda and grand designs that will hurt its interests.

This was disclosed by NEF president, Paul Unongo, at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday. He maintained that there were no issues of disagreement and demands by individuals and groups in the country or anywhere in the world that dialogue cannot resolve.

“NEF acknowledges that we the citizens of Nigeria are capable of resolving our issues internally. The North recognizes and acknowledges that there are demanding and legitimate questions on the current operations of the Nigerian state. The North has very clear ideas on all issues and positions that the nation sees as challenges and is willing to dialogue on all of them.

“What the North will not allow, however, is to be stampeded into adopting an agenda and grand designs from other parts of Nigeria, which will hurt its basic interests. The North will demand a respectful and responsible approach to its participation in the search for answers to the many questions confronting our country,” he said.

According to him, responsible governance and the rule of law are the primary requirement for the realisation of peaceful and prosperous societies including the protection of human rights and dignity.

He added, “It is with considerable disquiet, therefore, that the NEF has witnessed the recent developments in Nigeria, which have tilted towards subversion of the Nigerian state and violation of the principles and tenets of the rule of law and the protection of the lives and dignity of all Nigerians.

“These developments have primarily been triggered by some misguided elements of our country who have apparently harassed, threatened and intimidated the rest of the country. The recent unprovoked attacks against northerners in some states in the South-East and South-South of Nigeria pose an existential threat to the entire country.

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“NEF notes and commends the restrained and mature reaction of the Northern leadership represented by the 19 Northern state governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives and state assemblies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community associations, politicians, elders, coalition of youth groups and the millions of citizens of Nigeria from the North who recognised the value of peace, and did not respond against the people from the states from where killings and recent atrocities were perpetrated against northerners.”

The call for the restructuring of Nigeria has continued to gather momentum especially from the Southwest, Southeast and South-south which make up the southern region of the country.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

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