By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
…Calls For Convocation Of ‘National Peoples Dialogue’, …Full Implementation Of 2014 CONFAB Report
As Nigeria celebrates 60th independence anniversary, the supreme umbrella body of all Yoruba youths and women, Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide (YCYW) and Yoruba Council of Women Worldwide (YCWW) under the aegis of Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye, has hailed Nigerians for their continuous demonstration of resilience, courage and steadfastness, despite the numerous challenges the nation is grappling with.
However, the group said the celebration calls for a sober reflection to look back and rewrite the wrongs of the past. It said Nigerians have remained stronger and hopeful despite the numerous challenges and “aggravated economic assaults done on the majority of the citizenry”.
In a statement released by the president of the group, Aare (Barrister) Oladotun Hassan, the organization called on the Federal Government to consider taking some ‘people-centred’ decisions that would help resolve Nigeria’s short-term and long-term issues.
The group urged the Nigerian government to look inward for onward solutions by urgently reducing the fuel pump price far below its status quo. “Unarguably, the nation is passing through her trying times and grave challenges bordering on insecurity, economic crisis and political instability for a long period of time, spanning pre- independence till date.
“Despite the numerous aggravated economic assaults done on the majority of the citizenry, yet we remain stronger and hopeful, invariably this is highly commendable of our enduring spirits and patience as we collectively forge ahead aftermath of the perilous total lock down periods as a result of the global Covid 19 pandemic.
“We fundamentally demand the urgent simultaneous fixing and accelerated repairs of all our oil refineries for onward maximum productivity outputs.
“We use this medium to call on the Federal Government to set up a monitoring steering committee that will provide all the needed enabling conducive environment for the convocation of “National Peoples Dialogue” that will see to the realization of a restructured state.
“We remain undeterred by the recent tribulation’s happenings in the country, but it is high time we promote succinct delivery of dividends of democracy and national patriotism towards ensuring national unity, peace and development,” he stated.
While berating the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for chickening out from the planned protest, the group called for “national discourse on the aggravated issues of insecurity and killings of Nigerians”.
It also called for the implementation of the 2014 CONFAB report. Hassan in his statement urged all Nigerians across all ethnic groups to avoid entreaties of ethnic conflicts and provocative tendencies currently pervading the nation.
“We call for urgent national discourse on the aggravated issues of insecurity and killings of Nigerians by wrecking monumental havoc and instilling fatal blow on our territorial boundary by the dreaded Fulani armed terrorists, while demanding for the total overhaul of the nation’s security institutions and immediate review of appointments of the service chiefs, who are in excess of their statutory tenured periods.
“Furthermore with absolute demand for the full implementation of the 2014 CONFAB report. Also, we need to avert all the entreaties of war and provocative tendencies currently pervading the nation; a reflection of a failed and pariah state, as a result of the continuous total neglect by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration on key fundamentals in consonance with the “APC (All Progressives Congress) led Change Mantra” unfulfilled promises after five years , for no nation can survive two civil wars, yet we remain eternally grateful for God’s interventions at various points in time.
“Hence, the need for extreme sober reflections on the need to jointly promote peace and grow our nation progressively,” he added.
