Prominent socio-cultural groups rose from a symposium in Kaduna to call for a radical restructuring of Nigeria to prevent the country’s collapse.
The symposium organized by the Rebirth Group in Kaduna and attended by representatives of various ethnic communities in Nigeria, both physically and online, resolved that the current structure of the country is largely responsible for its numerous problems.
The symposium advocated for a reorganization of the country into regions with more powers over their respective affairs, a smaller and smarter central government, and a return to the parliamentary system of government rather than the current large and expensive presidential system.
The participants also recommended the setting up of a Restructuring or Rebirth Commission to make the proposed changes a reality and consider United Regions of Nigeria (URN) to replace the current nomenclature.
Organizations represented at the event included Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Middle Belt Forum, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Socio-Community Youth Association of Nigeria (SCOYAN), Yoruba Referendum, Initiative for a Better and Brighter Nigeria (Kaduna State Chapter), ICATAFA Igbo Community (Kaduna), Yoruba Community (Kaduna), Tarayyar Hausa, Fulani, and Kanuri Christian Association in Nigeria and Western Region Organization (WRO).
Others wereSouthern Borno Residents in Kaduna, Yobe Community Residents in Kaduna, Adamawa Community Residents in Kaduna, and Taraba Community Residents in Kaduna.
A communiqué issued by the Chairman of the Communique Drafting Committee for the symposium, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Mr. DIY Nweze, member, and Mr. Olaolu Abigunloko, member, and made available to journalists yesterday noted that the current system is not working because it was imposed on Nigerians without their input.
The communique read in part: “The way Nigeria is presently structured and is running is largely responsible for why the country is not working in the interest of Nigerians.
“Thus, the country should be reorganized into regions. These regions should be given more powers over their respective affairs. In other words, the central government is to concern itself only with issues that the federating units cannot handle. The central government should be smaller and smarter.
“Six regions were recommended at the Ibadan Symposium – perhaps in line with the present geopolitical zones. At the Kaduna Symposium, however, Eeght regions were proposed. But each region would be equal to the other in status and ranking.
“Restructuring into regions is not meant to abrogate states that we have presently. The regions would form the federating units to make the country known as the United Regions of Nigeria (URN) or any other nomenclature that we find convenient.
“Each region is to have its own constitution and be autonomous. This is to ensure that they are in a proper position to operationalize self-determination.
“The restructuring must be such that the community, state, and local government from where certain resources come should have 70 percent of the proceeds of the resources while 30 percent goes to the centre.
“To avoid domination or even sit-tight syndrome, heads of each level of government should be rotational based on the constituents within that enclave.
“Efforts should be made to heal the wounds in the country by, for instance, setting up a Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission.”
In an interview on the sideline of the event, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, Co-Convener of The Rebirth Group, an arm of New Nation Enlightenment Foundation, said: “It is obvious there are agitations here and there. People are not satisfied with the way things are.
“So, if things are not going the way we want, then we need to sit down, have a rethink and ask what is wrong. Why should a Yoruba man not be proud to call himself Nigerian? Why should an Igbo man not be proud to call a Hausa man his brother?
“So, there is that nationality question which is who is a Nigerian? Most of us think we are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Etulo, Berom, Kanuri, Kataf, Bajju, etc. This is why we feel that we need to sit together and have that discussion.
“The way things are, there is a serious trust deficit. Even within Yoruba land, we still have agitation. Within Igbo, we still have agitation. In the North, there are agitations. Why?
“We are not the only multi-ethnic country in the World. We have Switzerland, India, etc are there. How have they been able to bring millions of their people out of poverty whereas millions of Nigerians are sinking into poverty?” he queried. (The Sun)
