A Constitutional Lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, has reiterated call for restructuring of the country along socio-economic, political and security lines.
Nwabueze made the call at the General Assembly of the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) Stakeholders Meeting and Award to prominent Nigerians in Enugu on Tuesday.
The elder statesman and senior advocate also noted that there was a need for a new and workable constitution for the country.
“A constitution that will take care of various needs and interest in the country while engendering peace and love devoid of various agitation going on in the country.
“The elders of the country want a country that work for all and respect individual rights and liberties as seen in countries with advanced democracies,’’ he said.
Nwabueze, however, urged Nigerians irrespective of creed and political party affiliations to work for peace and progress of the country, noting that “that is our own country’’.
Earlier, Chief Mbazurike Amaechi, former Minister of Aviation in the first Republic, said that restructuring was a must for the country to make the much anticipated and needed progress.
Amaechi noted that there was a need to go back to the structure that made Nigeria the pride of Africa and the Black race during the first republic and the 60s.
“Anybody not supporting this move did not want the best for the country and want us to remain retrogressive all the way,’’ he said.
The National Secretary of ECA, Mr Elliot Uko, said that his group believed in one indivisible and united Nigeria but restructured to give everyone, interest and group a sense of belonging.
Uko, who is the convener of the assembly, said that ECA had remained committed to the total restructuring as being advocated by Prof. Nwabueze and other prominent patriots of the country.
“ECA stands for the unity and progress of Nigeria and want a total restructuring for the country to make progress as it was during the first republic and the 60s in the country,’’ he said.
The event took a new twist when Uko started mentioning prominent Nigerians for awards and some participants protested the non inclusion of estranged leader of outlawed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) disrupted the event by shouting war songs.
The police command in the state immediately rushed to the venue and dispersed the agitators.
The awardees include Nwabueze, Amaechi, first President of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the former President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Kimse Akoko and Chief Maria Okwor. (NAN)