The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has disclosed that restructuring is in the best interest of Nigeria and its citizens.
Afenifere made this call on Sunday, June 20, via a statement issued through its Secretary-General, Sola Ebiseni.
This came in the wake of a recent statement by President Muhammadu Buhari over the weekend, describing the advocates of restructuring and secession as “not only naive but mischievously dangerous.”
Buhari had made this assertion at the launch of the Kudirat Abiola Sabon Gari Peace Foundation in Zaria, Kaduna State at the weekend.
The President also told those calling for a national dialogue that his government had no time for any “obscure conference.”
He added that that amounted to seeking the balkanisation of the country.
However, Afenifere said it was stunned that in spite of Governors and former Nigerian leaders lending their weights to the calls for restructuring, Buhari was thinking otherwise.
“We are at a critical stage where children, particularly in states with the highest population of children out of school in the world can no longer go to school at all for fear of being kidnapped for ransom.
“State governments are demanding the powers to establish state police to deal with insecurity and prominent traditional rulers, especially Emirs have called on their people to rise in their own defence and some uninformed government officials are threatening us with war if we seek restructuring or self-determination. It is so nauseating.
“In any event, restructuring of the political architecture of the country in the interest of the people; their security and general wellbeing is not going to be at the pleasure of the President; or the whims and caprices of his uncouth officials,” Afenifere said.
Meanwhile, members of the South East Governors’ Forum have criticised the activities of secessionist groups in the region; and other parts of the country.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, at the end of the meeting on Saturday, June 19, in Enugu State.
The Forum distanced itself from the agitations of such groups; and also frowned on the violence that ensued which led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.
In a bid to tackle the security challenges and restore peace in the region; the governors went beyond their political differences; and met on Saturday in Enugu State.
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“We condemn in totality, the activities of violent secessionist groups in the South East and elsewhere; we firmly proclaim that we do not support them, they do not speak for us,” Umahi said.
