…say Nigeria heading for abyss with out restructuring
By Clifford Ndujihe, Anayo Okoli, Dirisu Yakubu & Dapo Akinrefon
MAJOR socio-cultural and ethnic organizations, yesterday, took sides with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his name for pressing restructuring of Nigeria’s safety structure amid rising wave of insecurity within the nation.
Teams that endorsed his place embody umbrella physique of Igbo socio-cultural organisations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere.
Aside from safety, the teams additionally known as for restructuring of the nation.
On its half, the opposition Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) stated Obasanjo’s place vindicated its stand for the elimination of Safety Chiefs.
The previous President made the decision on the 2020 Sobo Sowemimo Annual Lecture in Abeokuta, final Friday.
Obasanjo is true—Afenifere
Afenifere backed Obasanjo’s place on restructuring, saying it remained the one saving grace for the nation.
Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the physique, Yinka Odumakin, stated: “There is no such thing as a doubt that Nigeria is a failed state in the mean time. The state is drifting and the one factor that may preserve Nigeria afloat at this second is to restructure with none delay.
“If we don’t do it, Nigeria as we all know it’s on its option to abyss. Within the first quarter of this yr, we spent a big share of our earnings to service money owed and we’re nonetheless buying money owed. It’s now not sustainable and the one saving grace is to restructure instantly. So, Obasanjo is true.”
Let’s renegotiate the best way ahead—Akintoye
President of the Yoruba World Congress, YWC, Professor Banji Akintoye, threw his weight behind the previous President’s name, noting that there was have to renegotiate the best way ahead for Nigeria.
Akintoye, an Emeritus Professor of Historical past, stated: “The idea of restructuring to revive developmental competence to the varied items of Nigeria is a good suggestion. The current over-centralisation of all the things within the arms of a authorities in Abuja is harmful. It’s what has led Nigeria to a degree that it’s breaking apart.
“Subsequently, to ask for restructuring is sensible and we should thank Obasanjo that he’s including voice to that now. The safety construction on this nation has damaged down fully and individuals are being killed in all places. Nigeria is in a state of anarchy. That’s what Obasanjo meant when he stated the safety structure has damaged down.”
Obasanjo’s remark in keeping with our place — Ohanaeze
Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated Obasanjo’s name for the restructuring of Nigeria’s safety structure has been the place of Ndigbo.
Equally, elite Igbo group, Alaigbo Growth Basis, ADF, chaired by Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, stated former President Obasanjo’s name was so as.
Based on Ohanaeze, it was restructuring that made the pan-Igbo group help Alhaji Atiku Abubakar within the 2019 presidential election.
The President-Normal of the apex Igbo group, Chief Nnia Nwodo, stated the physique is 100per cent in help of former President Obasanjo’s place.
Talking by his Particular Adviser, Media, Emeka Attama, the Ohanaeze chief insisted that with out structuring, Nigeria wouldn’t make any significant progress.
“We’re 100 % in help of Obasanjo. That has been the place of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Nigeria is dying, and the President doesn’t appear to see it. We’re completely in help of the decision. That has been our place and that was the rationale Ohanaeze backed Atiku within the 2019 elections as a result of he stated he was going to restructure the nation.
“We simply must restructure, allow us to begin from the safety structure. It a is severe subject. It’s not a toddler’s play. You will have the complete safety of the nation put within the arms of a piece of the nation. You permit the service chiefs to remain past their tenure,” Ohanaeze stated.
Alaigbo Growth Basis, by its spokesman, Abi Onyike, stated: “Any opinion coming from former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be taken significantly and revered.
“Obasanjo’s authorities from 1999-2007 was essentially the most secure, purposeful and well-directed administration. It was after he left in 2007, that issues started to go topsy-turvy.”.
Obasanjo’s place vindicates our stand – PDP
The PDP stated Obasanjo’s name for the overhauling of the nation’s safety structure is a vindication of its constant name on the Federal Authorities to vary the Service Chiefs for higher service supply.
Talking to Sunday Vanguard, the Nationwide Publicity Secretary of the opposition occasion, Kola Ologbondiyan, famous that safety underneath Buhari had worsened than he met it in 2015.
He stated: “The previous President has vindicated us. Throughout the nation right now, life has grow to be so low-cost to the extent that some felony components now kill for enjoyable.
“The Service Chiefs have merely did not ship. So Chief Obasanjo is true and he has stated what the PDP has been saying for years. The Federal Authorities has failed in defending Nigerians, a lot of whom have died both within the arms of bandits, armed robbers or Boko Haram. We’ve got by no means had it this unhealthy.”
Nigeria’s safety points
Excerpts from the lecture titled, Covid-19 and Nigeria’s Safety Points: The Means Ahead, learn: “ During the last two weeks or so, there have been feedback and remarks in regards to the state of insecurity within the nation occasioned by criminality and acts of lawlessness which are brazen and outrageous with seeming authorities powerlessness to behave successfully. These with different willful and unhelpful acts of presidency on the centre had made some governors to plan technique of enhancing safety inside their States and their geo-political zones.
The problem of Nigeria’s future because of our present safety scenario should not be taken non-seriously as I see it as a matter of life and dying for our nation which should not be toyed with. I very a lot imagine that God created Nigeria to steer the black race because the Individuals lead the white race for now and the Chinese language lead the brown or yellow race. We should do all the things to actualise the plan of God for Nigeria not minding the good crises of the previous and gross under-performance, incompetence and failure of the current.
This makes me ask the query, “Is 1914 a mistake or the act of God by the instrumentality of man?” I don’t imagine God makes a mistake and He has His arms within the affairs of any man or lady and the affairs of any nation. God is purposeful and His thriller might not be simply understandable. Nigeria, to me, is a creation of God for justice, equity and fairness amongst its elements.
Let me lay extra emphasis on the difficulty of safety which in itself is severe sufficient to make restructuring crucial. The South-West Governors cried out and devised Amotekun as an answer or part-solution. We’re but to see how efficiently that will likely be operated. Different zones are clamouring for an answer as a result of in no State and in no geopolitical zone is life and property protected and safe. Criminality is the order of the day. And it cuts throughout the complete nation.
Insecurity is one subject of commonality amongst Nigerians regardless of their tribe, language, faith, geographical location, gender, age or social place. If we’re all held hostage by criminality of Boko Haram, terrorists, herdsmen/farmers, bandits, kidnappers, militants, armed robbers, then all of us have frequent floor to hunt frequent resolution by placing apart governance collapse, incompetence, failure, insincerity and insensitivity and chart a brand new secure, enduring and usually sustainable foundation and platform for Nigeria Federation.
What’s everlasting and fixed in life is change, reform, and re-adjustment. To keep away from change when it’s mandatory is to keep away from progress. Inflexibility is an indication of a sick thoughts particularly within the face of overwhelming proof for change. Folks usually discuss with historical past and the previous to justify their rigidity. My place has at all times been, bear in mind historical past however don’t be shackled by it nor grow to be its hostage.
For me, I don’t need to inherit the enemies of my father, that’s a part of historical past. My father’s time and life are completely different from mine. Circumstances do change and solely fools won’t know and acknowledge that. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and different previous leaders have lived their lives at their occasions.
They’ve carried out their finest and they need to be revered for his or her service. And if in our personal time we solely must stay the best way they lived and solely be guided by what they believed and did with none change, then we would as nicely not have been born as a result of we add nothing to enhance the scenario and to make the society higher.
That will likely be totally unsuitable and unlucky. If all of us must comply with make Nigeria our nation, and never solely Yoruba nation, Ibo nation, Fulani nation, Ibibio nation, Gbashama nation, Urhobo nation, and so on., now we have to vary our mindset, our perspective, our orientation and embrace inclusiveness and equal alternatives, fairness, justice and love. If we solely dwell on others’ errors of the previous and canopy up our personal, Nigeria will likely be at finest stagnated or on the worst destroyed as an entity. Those that can not really feel comfy within the firm of different ethnic or non secular teams don’t have any enterprise in aspiring to management of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation like Nigeria. They’ll do nice hurt to the entity and, in truth, grow to be safety dangers.
The Northern Elders Discussion board, by its spokesperson, Akeem Baba Ahmed, had declared President Buhari a failure on account of persistent insecurity inside the nation. I omit economic system which is within the doldrums and preventing corruption the place you see extra warmth than gentle and which is festering like a foul sore. Leaders in politics, non-public sector, faith, conventional establishments and civil society have cried out in opposition to pervasive insecurity in our land. Salihu Garba, in his open letter to Arewa Governors and legislators, has loads to say.
However he begins with, “Solely insane individuals can sit and watch their individuals being killed, ladies and younger ladies raped, and sons kidnapped by some ragtag bandits, kidnappers or rebel group, whose motivations have been constructed on demonic ideology, quick access to firearms and our collective failure in offering the specified community-based shepherd management and a fit-for-purpose safety system”.
He cautioned the North on extreme dependence on the Federal handouts and safety brokers. He raised many points and made solutions which are within the area of devolution and restructuring with collaboration, cooperation and solidarity.
Nobody in his or her proper senses will go in opposition to many of the factors Salihu raised in his letter to strengthen Nigerian unity and oneness and improve efficiency by devolution and restructuring. He went on, “Our docility and indifference to insecurity at all times baffled me, contemplating the truth that now we have the data, good-willed individuals and the chance to serve our individuals with all honesty and sincerity of goal, however now we have failed to take action and so usually as if we’re underneath some kind of spell or curse”. No matter it’s, now we have a brand new alternative now.
He concluded, “Let’s collectively make the message go spherical till we see outcomes – a peaceable and affluent Arewa and Nigeria at massive”. That, to me, is what reform of federating items and restructuring is all about and never about break-up or disintegration. Insecurity caused by widespread criminality of Boko Haram, insurgents, herdsmen/farmers battle, terrorists, bandits, armed robbers, militants, kidnappers, abductors and human traffickers is a brand new phenomenon that’s ravaging the complete nation. The causes are many however the resolution is past the capability of the federal government which appeared to be on the finish of its wit. Optimistic motion is required from all well-meaning Nigerians from throughout the board as we’re all victims and hostages.
It’s evident that no ethnic group nor geopolitical zone and never even the Fulanis in Nigeria are collectively glad with the current scenario despite President Buhari being a Fulani man. I’m, in fact, discounting invidious and irredeemable Fulani fundamentalists and hegemonists.
I imagine that you simply discover such individuals inside any Nigerian tribal or ethnic group. We should not undertake place of mindlessness ‘do nothing’ and permit a couple of to wreck our current and our future.
Collectively, we are able to have Nigeria of our dream. And I imagine that there are Nigerians in all walks of life, from all ethnic teams, non secular teams, cultural teams, political teams and throughout age and gender who will work genuinely and sincerely for emergence of a brand new Nigeria based mostly on rules of democracy, fairness, justice, mutual respect, egalitarianism, good governance, federal character, and extol benefit and competence. Federal safety structure, as organized and operated by the current authorities, can not give any particular person or group hope, not to mention assurance of safety inside Nigeria,”
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