Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna says, says those seeking a "wholesale abandonment" of the existing political structure in the quest of restructuring the country are "probably unrealistic" in their expectations.Speaking at Chatham House in London on Thursday, el-Rufai said Nigerians appreciate their diversity but seek a fairer system that puts social justice above everything.The governor explained that this could be [...]
Tag "restructuring"
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The Eastern Consultative Forum (ECA) has described the branding of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB ) as a terrorist group and its proscription by south-east governors as an attempt by the federal government to impede the clamour for restructuring.In a statement signed by its secretary, Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, the group said the military exercise by the Nigerian army tagged 'Operation Python Dance [...]
Bolaji Akinyemi, former minister of external affairs, says right now, the only person who can solve the problem of Nigeria is President Muhammadu Buhari.Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Akinyemi said he came to that conclusion based on the current situation of things in the country.Akinyemi said without the north embracing restructuring, there would be no solution to Nigeria’s problem.“People [...]
Whether Nigerians like it or not, the restructuring of the polity will be the defining issue in the general elections in 2019. Everywhere you turn now, both offline and online, the conversation is all about restructuring.This discussion has been vigorously amplified such that it has become a buzzword with varying meanings to those who truly know the imperative of [...]
Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, says town hall meetings will be held in the 19 northern states to aggregate views on restructuring.Speaking with journalists after the inaugural meeting of the committee on restructuring, Tambuwal said the north has decided to present their case on the subject as a single entity.He said the governors reaffirmed their remains a strong and united [...]
Femi Adesina, special adviser on media and publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, has raised concerns over the “hate and diabolic thoughts” some Nigerians are filled with.Writing on his Facebook page on Saturday, Adesina wondered why these Nigerians are always "in the gall of bitterness and bondage of iniquity," never expecting anything good to happen to the country.He said what such [...]
Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo has said he cannot be part of those advocating for the restructuring of the country.In an interview with Channels Television, Obasanjo said all that needs changing is the mentality of Nigerians.Obasanjo said he'd rather have a situation where people were championing inclusiveness as opposed to restructuring.The former president said Nigerians should concern themselves with how the country's resources [...]
The southern leaders of thought, led by Ben Nwabueze, elder statesman, says Nigeria needs a new constitution for it to be effectively restructured.Rising from their meeting in Lagos on Thursday, the leaders said the 1999 Constitution should pave way for a new constitution approved by the people.The constitution is currently being reviewed by the national assembly. Pundits believe its review [...]
Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, has advised those criticising President Muhammadu Buhari over restructuring to exercise restraint in their choice of words.In a statement on Wednesday, Shehu said issues are resolved through "established processes, not by abuses, insults or irresponsible statements".He was reacting to opinions expressed over Buhari’s speech. The president had said [...]
President Muhammadu Buhari says the unity of the country is not negotiable.Buhari said this in his first address to the nation since he returned from London, where he had been receiving medical attention for over three months.Revealing that he was in touch with major developments in the country while abroad, Buhari said some those who questioned our collective existence as [...]
BY TOLA ADENIYI We are talking of Confederation based on the current 6 regional zones which the Abacha government bequeathed to Nigeria and some people are talking of something totally irrelevant to the end goal. We are talking of a peaceful political solution that will terminate the humongous funds being currently squandered on cost of governance and the so-called National Assembly [...]
BY EMENENA BRIGHT Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, a former Vice-President of Nigeria and a former presidential candidate, no doubt may be one of the most maligned high ranking former public office holders from the North. In addition to the public perception that everyone who has been in government has stolen government money and is corrupt, the experience and challenges Atiku Abubakar [...]
BY FRANCIS ANEKWE OBORJI “Which way Nigeria… which way to go? I love my father’s land. Oh yes, I want to know, which way Nigeria is heading to?” (Sunny Okosun).At a time like this in Nigeria, the above citation from the musical lyrics of one of the country’s greatest musicians of our time, late Sunny Okosun, needs remembering. I have chosen [...]
BY FRANCIS OBORJI “Watchman, what of the Night” (Isaiah 21:11): “Nobody pays attention to what we say. No one listens to us. We are there to wait at their door. Those who have papers pass in front… taken care of … for us nothing.” (Jean Marc Ela in the epigraph in his book, “L’Afrique des Villages” (1982).The above citation from “ L’Afrique des Villages”, the immortal work of Jean-Marc Ela, a Catholic Priest and African theologian from Cameroun, is a fitting introduction to the theme of this article. It is a bird’s eye view of the lamentations of African masses against their so-called political leaders and [...]
At least 15 political parties on the platform of the Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN) have expressed support for the restructuring of the country.Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, CNN’s national chairman, who addressed reporters on Monday in Abuja, said the coalition was determined to chart a new course for Nigeria.According to him, CNN is committed to the unity, indivisibility and progress of Nigeria.He [...]
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday set up a ten-member committee to articulate the party's position in restructuring.A statement issued by Bolaji Abdullahi, the party's spokesman, said the decision was reached after the regular joint APC national working committee (NWC) /APC governors meeting which held in Abuja. on Wednesday"The All Progressives Congress (APC) notes that with various agitations on [...]
