Leaders in the South-West, South-East, South-South and Middle Belt have called on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to listen to former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo’s calls to restructure the country and avoid another civil war.
Acting under the aegis of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), the leaders said restructuring would resolve many of the challenges currently bedevilling the nation.
The SMBLF made this known in a Sunday statement signed by Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Gen. C. Ikekire (South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt).
The Herald can report that the forum comprises leading socio-cultural groups Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Middle Belt Leaders Forum.
“Warnings to Nigeria from the two oldest Nigerian ex-Leaders in two months that Nigeria must restructure to avoid a war situation is not lost on the SMBLF, as the country rolls from one challenge to the other.
“First was Gen. Gowon who warned in January that Nigeria must urgently deal with the business of restructuring to avoid another civil war as a country. Gen Gowon 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.
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“The latest admonition is coming from Gen. 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 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.
“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. A stitch in time saves nine says ancient wisdom.”
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