A need for the interest groups agitating for the restructuring of Nigeria into segments to come out with a coherent blueprint or strategy that would enable their people understand the concept for which such agitations are for, has been stressed.
A former Chairman of the Plateau State Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Principal Counsel, Solicitor and Advocates of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Tob Kekemeke, made this call on Friday when he spoke with The Eagle Online in his office in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Kekemeke said restructuring, which is an ambiguous term, needed to be interpreted by those agitators to enable their people have a better understanding of the concepts over which they are begging for support.
Kekemeke, who was reacting to threats currently posed to the Nation by the agitating groups such as the Niger Delta Avengers, Independent People of Biafra, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and Boko Haram, calling for autonomy, said: “Restructuring is a play word demanding for attention and all these groups, none of them has a blueprint or platform.
“If you said you want the country divided into either the six geopolitical zones, have you had a consensus as to whether the country should be restructured?
“Or have you had the mandate of your people to carry out such agitation?
“This is discontent against government taken too far.
“The country can only be restructured through a referendum where section (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is amended.”
Kekemeke appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to have a second thought in his approach to issues, particularly in ensuring that the economic well-being and security of citizens of the country is guaranteed.
He said: “Former President of the country, Goodluck Ebere Jonathan was from my place and I was highly against his policies and I supported the change.
“The Change has come and I am very sure that for somebody to come from somewhere to defeat an incumbent, will go a long way to show you that Nigerians want good governance.
“Nigerians don’t want poverty.
“Nigerians want their well-being and security guaranteed.
“But, as it is now, even me, I am neglecting the CHANGE!
“There is mistrust, armed robbery is resurfacing, fuel has increased very high and there is no action of the government that is appealing to the people.”
Kekemeke said the appointments so far made in the various sectors of the Nation’s economy and that of the Services Chiefs and other security agencies are already creating apprehension among the people that the President does not respect the Federal Character principle.
He said he does not believe in promoting mediocrity by appointing just anybody for any position, but an act where a section of the divide is most considered for positions is unacceptable and it portrays negative consequences for the country.
He said: “The President’s action has proven that the federal character as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution is just a mere document and we are already a divided country.”