ACF, NEF back debate on restructuring of Nigeria
- The Arewa Consultative Forum says it will support restructuring if such a move will strengthen the unity of Nigeria with equal rights and opportunities for all citizens
- The Northern Elders Forum states that the north is ready for dialogue with other regions of the country on restructuring
Junaid Mohammed describes Atiku Abubakar as a nonentity who is not genuinely interested in restructuring
The northern region appears to has relaxed its opposition to the calls for restructuring of Nigeria as two northern groups, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) have indicated interest to partake in the debate on restructuring.
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The national publicity secretary of the ACF, Alhaji Muhammad Biu, told the Punch newspaper in an interview on Sunday, September 24, that the forum will support the call for the restructuring only if the country is restructured to strengthen the unity of Nigeria with equal rights and opportunities for all citizens.
He said: “ACF respects the views of Nigerians on any structure of government that will strengthen our unity and peaceful coexistence for equitable development.
“ACF reaffirms its commitment to one united, indivisible and indissoluble Nigeria with equal rights and opportunities for all.
“We also support due process within our democratic institutions in effecting any structural change for the common good of all.”
Similarly, the chairman of the NEF, Paul Unongo, said the north was ready for dialogue with other regions of the country on restructuring but warned that the north would not be coerced into carrying out any action unfavorable to its development.
Unongo said: “The North is very open to dialogue. I am the chairman of the northern elders and nobody can say we will not encourage dialogue. We love Nigeria but we will not be stampeded into carrying out someone’s agenda.
“The uneducated North of pre-independence times was not the same North of today. Today, we have Ph.D holders in every discipline.”
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“I think we need a dialogue.
“It will not be easy for the North to say take away our advantages and give us nothing. They (southern elements) were the ones that allowed the British to do this."
Meanwhile, Junaid Mohammed who is a second republic lawmaker has lashed out at Atiku Abubakar describing him as a nonentity who is not genuinely interested in restructuring.
The former vice president had said that anyone opposed to the current clamour for the restructuring of the nation is lazy but Mohammed in his reaction said Atiku was a nonentity
The Sun reports that the former lawmaker said that Atiku thinks that by insulting the north, the south will support his presidential ambition.
In the video below, Legit.ng TV asked some Nigerians if they prefer restructuring of Nigeria or separation of the country.
Source: Legit.ng
