*Arewa
leaders warn agitators over campaign
Those
hankering for the restructuring of the country to achieve federal character and
balance the distribution of the nation’s commonwealth would have to wait until
a new constitution becomes operational.
This follows
yesterday’s remarks by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu
Dogara, at the hearing organised by the House Ad hoc Committee on the Review of
the 1999 Constitution at the National Assembly, that restructuring could only
be done through the amendment of the constitution.
Revealing
that the parliament would not constitute a stumbling block to the wishes and
aspirations of Nigerians for genuine changes in the constitution, Dogara
assured that when completed, the new set of laws would address the various
agitations in all parts of the country.
Dogara
assured that the various recommendations calling for judicial reforms were
geared towards reducing the time for litigation in courts and that efforts
should be made to adopt and reflect them in the final amendments.
The Speaker
urged stakeholders to also ensure that the purpose of entrenching the NIC as a
superior court of record with exclusive jurisdiction on labour related matters
is not defeated so that the country doesn’t return to the days of uncertainty
on labour matters.
House
Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila assured that at the end of the consideration of the
review exercise, the committee would forward aspects of amendment that would
have been approved to the House for further legislative action.
In the
meantime, alleging ethnic and tribal biases, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has
faulted the current agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria, warning that
such agitation may not promote the unity and development of the nation.
A statement
issued yesterday, by the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim
Biu, pointed out that “the term means different things to different people or
groups. To some people, it is true federalism, whatever that means, for others
it is fiscal federalism, while some group tout resource control and yet we have
those for resource ownership.”
Biu said,
“ACF notes with regret that those clamouring or demanding for the so-called
restructuring are yet to define what they actually mean by the concept and its
application in our present democratic setting,” stressing that in most cases,
the meaning depends on which section of the country or the person advocating
for it comes from.
“It is,
therefore, the considered view of the ACF that any acceptable restructuring
meant to improve the unity, stability, harmony and peaceful coexistence must be
based on just, fair and equitable principles to all Nigerians that come with
clarity of definition.”
Besides, it
also dwelt on the report of 2014 National Conference, noting that “the
opposition of the North to the implementation of the recommendations in report
of 2014 National Conference is not so much because of any legal consideration
as to its legitimacy, but also because the selection of the conference
delegates was skewed against the North in number considering its population.”
Meanwhile,
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State yesterday dissociated government and
indigenes of Abia from the clamour for the republic of Biafra being fronted by
IPOB, he insisted that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable.
Just like
Ikpeazu’s position, his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje also
reiterated commitment to guarantee security of lives and property of all
residents of Kano regardless of ethnic and religious diversity.
Governor
Ikpeazu who spoke in Kano while fielding questions from journalists shortly
after paying condolence visit to governor Ganduje on the demise of Danmasanin
Kano Yusuf Maitama Sule, reminded the agitators of secession about the
importance of Nigeria’s unity in diversity rather suggested mutual dialogue to
resolves grey hair.
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