Igbo leaders
yesterday affirmed support for the implementation of the report of the 2014
national conference and restructuring of the country on the basis of fairness
and
equity to check rising agitations threatening the unity of the nation.
The leaders
urged the Federal Government to set up structures that would enable the
implementation of the report within a reasonable time frame.
Rising from
a meeting in Enugu last night attended by the five governors of the southeast,
members of the National Assembly, Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders, religious leaders
and selected Igbo leaders of thought on the state of the nation, Ndigbo stated
that the socio-political situation of the country has assumed a worrisome
dimension that must be tackled with urgency.
Chairman of
the Southeast governor’s forum and Ebonyi State Governor, David Nweze Umahi,
who read the communiqué, stated that though they recognized quite rightly the
challenge faced by each zone of the country by one form of youth restiveness or
the other, they are “particularly concerned because of the crude dimensions
that things are veering.”
Stressing
that Ndigbo condemned hate speeches and certain conducts emanating from
segments of the country over unresolved issues; he stated that they would
“continue to seek avenues of positive resolutions in order to avert bringing pointless
doom upon the country.”
Meanwhile,
fiscal federalism and review of the controversial 2014 National Conference
Report will dominate discussions as Nigeria’s leaders of thought meet today at
the Ilupeju- Lagos chambers of the late Chief Rotimi Williams.
The Guardian
reliably gathered that major proponents of restructuring, including former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar, Constitutional lawyer and former Minister of
Education, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Professor of Political Economy and
Entrepreneurship, Pat Okedinachi Utomi, Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanj, are
scheduled to be part of the ‘closed meeting.’ Other leaders expected to
participate in today’s brainstorming session in Lagos are former Governors of
Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, Donald Duke and Obong Attah, among others.
According to Guardian, Prof. Utomi,
who gave the hint in a telephone conversation with The Guardian last night —
upon returning from a similar conference in Rwanda — said the current situation
in Nigeria demands urgent attention from men and women of goodwill.
The outcome
of discussion at the ‘closed conference’ will form part of the restructuring
template to be adopted by like-minded groups seeking audience from government
on fiscal federalism and the report of the 2014 national confab organised by
former President Goodluck Jonathan.
However, a
pro- Biafra group, the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of
Biafra (MASSOB) said yesterday that it is opposed to restructuring because the
foundation and intention of establishing the country does not favour the
clamour.
In a
statement made available to The Guardian in Enugu by its leader, Uchenna Madu,
the group reaffirmed it’s belief in what it described as “outright self
determination for Biafra independence from Nigeria,” stressing that Biafra
referendum was inevitable with the successful formation of common platform by
pro-Biafra groups.
Describing
the country as “British sponsored northern domination of political and military
landscape”, the group noted that such arrangement would never allow
restructuring which would favour other segments of the country.
He said: “We
shall consistently, unrelentingly and continuously press and demand for a
referendum that will determine the fate and choice of identity of the people of
Biafra.’’
Meanwhile,
the General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) worldwide,
Pastor Adejare Adeboye, has advanced the importance of restructuring the nation
with a view to making Nigeria enjoy relative peace and move forward.
Adeboye at a
thanksgiving service, yesterday at RCCG headquarters, Throne of Grace,
Ebute-Metta, where he prayed for the first born and their families with the
theme: “Born to Excel”, said Nigeria has everything she needs to excel as the
giant of Africa.
Represented
by the Assistant General Overseer, Admin. and Personnel, Pastor Johnson
Odesola, he said restructuring of Nigeria would go a long way to proffering
solutions to several unnecessary agitation in the nation and open door for
Nigerians to enjoy the resources God has deposited in the nation.
He remarked
that some people have paid dearly for the unity of the nation one way or the
other while some even shed their blood for the nation to stand as one and it
would be preposterous for all those efforts to be wasted.
Also the
Senior Pastor and founder of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr.
Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, has urged Nigerians to desist from actions that can
plunge the nation into another deadly civil war.
Olukoya said
this during Power Must Change Hands (PMCH) monthly programme monitored on a
live broadcast at the South West 4, Region and State Headquarters of the
ministry in Akure.
According to
him, war or civil strife cannot solve the difficult situations of nation and
frustrations experienced by the people, but will further worsen them and
heighten tension in the polity.
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