Members of
the Southern Leaders Forum (SLF), a political group led by Afenifere Chieftain,
Ayo Adebanjo, a former head of Nigeria’s Secret Service, Albert Horsfall,
and
former Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Joe Irukwu, have strongly disagreed with
President Muhammadu Buhari’s assertion that the unity of Nigeria has been
settled.
The Forum
members expressed their disagreement at a media briefing in Lagos, criticizing
President Buhari’s speech, and insisting that Nigerian unity ought to be open
to discussion and reformation.
Reacting to
Mr. Buhari’s national broadcast on his return from a prolonged medical leave in
Britain, the SLF described Nigeria as an unsettled country, which explained why
numerous groups were agitating for independence. SLF also stated that the
division existing in the country was also one of the reasons the country has
been unable to develop.
“The claim
that Nigeria's unity is settled and not negotiable is untenable. Every country
is a daily dialogue, and there is nothing finally settled in its life. If we
were a settled nation, we would not be dealing with the many crises of nation
building that are afflicting us today, which have made it extremely difficult
to squarely and urgently face issues of growth and development,” the SLF said.
The Forum
urged President Buhari to address the ultimatum issued by the Arewa youth
demanding that Igbo residents in northern Nigeria vacate by October 1, 2017.
According to the Forum, a more decisive action by the president would show that
Mr. Buhari is serious about promoting national unity.
The SLF also
condemned the Nigerian police for not being able to arrest any member of the
Arewa group that threatened Igbos in northern Nigeria, even though the group
members' faces are known.
“The one
sentence by the president that every Nigerian can live anywhere without let or
hindrance, if meant to address the quit notice by Arewa youths against Igbos,
was rather too short to address the clear and present danger that the
unwarranted threat represents.
“We are
distressed by the refusal of the police to comply with the arrest orders given
by the Kaduna State governor and the vice president while the president was
away. Instead of ensuring that these orders are carried out, the president has
now come to just make a bland comment on the explosive issue,” the SLF said.
The group
added that they condemned Mr. Buhari’s speech in its entirety, adding that
Nigeria was in a bad state. The SLF affirmed that this was the best time to
restructure the country.
“We are of the
view that leadership requires more than this at this crucial moment. We call on
the president to realize that the country is in a very bad shape at the moment.
This is the time to renegotiate Nigeria along federal lines negotiated by our
founding fathers to stem the tide of separatist feelings and agitations,” the
Forum concluded.
Saharareporters
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