Leaders and elders of the South East, South West, South-South, and Middle Belt regions have tasked the federal government to urgently do something to salvage the fast-depreciating naira and address the dwindling living conditions of Nigerians.
Rising from a meeting in Abuja under the Southern, Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF) and attended by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the Middle Belt Forum, they also implored the government to call to order individuals who are trying to arrogate the administration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to themselves to the exclusion of other Nigerians.
A communiqué issued on Friday, said the meeting, chaired by their leader, Chief Edwin Clark, said they deliberated on the state of the nation and resolved that the government should, as a matter of urgency, and priority, work towards the restructuring of the country and enthrone True Federalism as was originally entrenched in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions.
The meeting, therefore, resolved to set up a Strategic Committee on Restructuring and expressed readiness to interface with the federal government, the National Assembly, and all other stakeholders, on the enunciated issues.
While lamenting what they see as the marginalization of Nigerians from different parts of the country in appointments, the communiqué noted that without restructuring, the future of Nigeria and democracy will remain bleak.
The leaders expressed “great concern and total rejection of the trend where certain sections of the country, are continually marginalized in the number of states, local governments, and even appointments into the Federal Executive Council.
“Particularly requests that the South-East be appropriately represented on the Federal Executive Council, similar to other Geo-Political Zones.
“Insists that Nigeria must always remain a country where all citizens and sections enjoy a full sense of belonging and equality.”
The leaders urged the government to rein in individuals who are trying to arrogate the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to their region and faith to the exclusion of others from its administration, saying that the nation’s capital remains the national patrimony of all Nigerians.
The communiqué commended the political class, especially the leading presidential candidates in the 2023 presidential election for their recourse to constitutional means in redressing their grievances.
It also urged the government to take urgent steps to release the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, “since a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered so. We believe that doing so will promote peace and security in the South East.”
The leaders insisted that President Tinubu should take an urgent look at the 2014 National Conference Report.
The communiqué was signed by Clark, Chief Ayo Adebanjo (Leader, Afenifere); Chief Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide); General Zamani Lekwot rtd. (Chairman, Middle Belt Elders Council, and Former Military Governor, Rivers State); Dr Pogu Bitrus (President, Middle Belt Forum) and Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, (National Chairman, PANDEF).
. TheWitness
