Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has called on the federal government to heed to the warnings of former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo on restructuring the country to avert the breakout of war in the future.
Speaking in Lagos on Saturday at the first memorial lecture of the founder of Oodua People’s Congress, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, Obasanjo had said the failure to address the issue of restructuring in the country might lead to grave consequences.
He said, “When I was elected President the agitation was true federalism but now it is restructuring.
“If we don’t address it they may go from restructuring to self-determination and this will be a serious problem.
“If Boko Haram can get external support, any group that decided to go will get support from within and outside. So we must address the issue now,” he said.
Also, Gowon had clamoured for the restructuring of the country over a month ago.
Backing the call for restructuring, the group said the statement by the two former heads of state is not lost on the forum as the country rolls from one challenge to the other. The statement by the group was signed by Yinka Odumakin, (South West), Gen C.R.U Ikekire (South East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South South), Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt),
The statement read: “Gen. Yakubu Gowon who warned in January that Nigeria must urgently deal with the business of restructuring to avoid another civil war as a country was the man who led the country through its last civil war from 1967-70 and proclaimed “No Victor,No Vanquished,” which we observed more in the breach over the years.
“The latest admonition is coming from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who fought vigorously in the war to keep Nigeria united but is now warning us 50 years after the hostilities ended that we need to restructure now to save the country from a anarchy and break-up even as he commits to fighting for the unity of Nigeria but on the basis of equality of all citizens.
“This is the core issue at the heart of restructuring calls.That we can live together in peace and harmony once we make justice and equity the cornerstones of our existence as a country and not a union of the horse and the rider that is the order at the time in violation of federal spirit.
“Only those who do not wish the county well would not heed the statesmanly call not to allow the stonewalling of the restructuring call to lead to a situation where frustrations over such push nationalities in the country to embrace self-determination instead of trustful give-and – take that the demand for federalism seeks.
“It is sheer wishful thinking for anybody to assume that the displeasure that various nationalities are feeling over the many attendant inequities of unitary Nigeria can disappear with strong -arm tactics and bullying those at receiving ends with terror gangs on rampage around the country.
“A cursory look at events around the world in recent years have shown clearly that the force of arms cannot succeed in keeping together any diverse people brought together by historical circumstance but refuse to constitute themselves with respect, justice and understanding .
“We align with the patriotic interventions of the Leaders and call on those in the saddle now to look beyond temporary gains of power and heed the advice to set this country on the path of negotiation,inclusiveness and a federal constitutional order.”
