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Tag: Restructuring

  • Only NASS can restructure Nigeria – Buhari

    Only NASS can restructure Nigeria – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said only the National Assembly (NASS) can deliver the contentious issue of restructuring, true federalism or devolution of powers in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Buhari, who stated this on Friday when he received members of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), stressed that the continuous issue remains a constitutional matter.

    The members of NIREC were led by its Co-Chairmen, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle to the State House.

    Buhari, who reiterated his position on devolving more power to the people, said: “On the contentious issue of restructuring or true federalism or devolution of powers, like you all know, this is a constitutional matter with which only the National Assembly can deal.

    “I remain an unapologetic believer in devolving power to the people and that is why I signed the Executive Order granting autonomy to State Legislature and Judiciary. Unfortunately, this was met with some resistance at the State level and led to a more than two months strike action that has cost the country a lot of pain.

    “Luckily the National Assembly has nearly completed the constitutional review process, which I hope would address some of the burning issues agitating the minds of our people.’’

    President Buhari assured that efforts were already on to create a more conducive environment to address both direct and indirect causes of challenges including areas of job creation and employment generation, while appreciating religious leaders for their significant roles in national development, particularly in shaping perspectives.

    “Your role is critical in putting the correct perspective out to Nigerians,’’ he said.

    On security, the President told the religious leaders that the government was already going after financiers of criminal elements, who also supply them with arms, but were constrained by the strike by Judiciary workers.

    “Fortunately, this strike has been called off and prosecution of some of these people would soon commence, while our security agencies expand their network in closing in on the others,’’ he added.

    President Buhari assured that the administration remains committed to “quickly pushing this dark side of our history behind us and we are currently making sure that funding would not hamper our efforts.’’

    According to the President, the last Federal Executive Council meeting approved some funds for the security agencies, which would be put to judicious use.

    “As I mentioned yesterday, in Lagos, we would not relent in our efforts at clearing these criminals from all parts of our land including the forests,’’ he said.

    President Buhari said the government had the major part to play in providing security, adding: “but besides the imperative to abide by democratic processes is the important aspect of support of the citizenry to the security agencies by providing relevant and timely information.’’

    “I must confess that I am more pained than anyone can imagine with the on-going security challenges because, like you noted during your meeting, they have increased the hunger, pain and anger in the land,’’ he noted.

    The President thanked the religious leaders for their patriotism and commitment to ensuring peace and understanding.

    “I have listened to you and I am particularly happy that your meeting clearly identified specific and major roles for both the Government and the people of Nigeria. This is what has been lacking for some time in the national discourse on addressing our current security challenges.’’

    In their comments, NIREC, led by Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, thanked the President for the onerous assignment of leading the country, advising government to fund the armed forces better to confront myriad of security challenges facing the country, block sources of illegal arms, publish names of those funding terrorism and try them.

    They also canvassed the recruitment of more policemen, strengthening of the judiciary, tackle unemployment by creating jobs for youths particularly, and on separatist agitations in the country, NIREC said: “It is in our togetherness that we are stronger.”

  • Restructuring: An Idea Whose Time is Gone, By Michael West

    Restructuring: An Idea Whose Time is Gone, By Michael West

    By Michael West

     

    Whoever is still campaigning for restructuring to happen under this Fulanised government is short-sighted and not coming to terms with the reality in Nigeria today. For obvious reasons, restructuring cannot happen under Gen. MuhammaduBuhari-led government. The anchor reason is that restructuring is believed to be inimical to the interests and agenda of Fulani imperialists. The Buhari administration will rather violate any known moral and legal precepts to keep the status quo than to support an arrangement that would ease the vice-grip hold of the imperialists on the levers of power in Nigeria. They would prefer to manipulate the system in a way that would perpetuate them in control than to reasonably agree to any mutually beneficial arrangement that would guarantee equity, fairness, justice and true federalism.

     

    This is why I feel for the Yoruba apex socio-political group, Afenifere and its allies that are still calling for restructuring that may never come. In its recent communique issued in support of the southern governors’ position on the ban on open grazing and demand for restructuring among other things, Afenifere revealed that it has been calling for the restructuring of Nigeria to ensure true federalism way back since 1953. Demanding for a thing for a whole 68 years! Wow! Yet, Afenifere is still unrelenting even under the leadership of a man who has never hidden his disdain for the agitation. This is a sheer waste of time, energy and resources.

     

    In 2015, Buhari did not mention the word “restructuring” for once during his campaign. He knew he didn’t like it and he won’t promise what he will not do. It was Senator Bola Tinubu and his co-travellers that were saying all manner of things to deceive Nigerians into buying lies as campaign promises. In 2018 when the furore over the issue of restructuring became deafening, Buhari asked Governor Nasir El-Rufai committee to look into the restructuring matter and make recommendations for possible implementation. Buharimade the move as a strategy to douse the tension. As at today, El-Rufai’s report is still on the shelf gathering dust.

     

    Everybody in Nigeria knows that this government is largely run by a cabal of some unelected people around the President. One of them is the Sharia law graduate who is Buhari’sAttorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Whatever you hear from Malami, just take it to the bank as the authentic opinion or position of the President. When he came out strongly against Amotekun security initiative in January last year, despite the unprecedented tongue-lashing he received for his uncouth and illegal utterances, tacitly, the cabal still had its way as Amotekun was not only denied the right to carry standard weapons and the power to prosecute, our lilly-livered governors also traded the security outfit away on the altar of politics behind the scenes in Abuja. Until recently, Amotekun was more of a camouflage than a real security outfit.

     

    When Malami criticized the southern governors for daring to ban open grazing across the region, apart from the fact that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has been vocal in recent times in responding to the excesses of Abuja, he returned GarbaShehu’s punches with more devastating salvos. Malami said it was wrong for the governors to say so. He actually said the ban was “illegal” but his learned colleagues and seniors at the bar have told him to return to the classroom to relearn the basic law of human rights he’s trying to murder. Expectedly, what Malami had earlier said was what Garba Shehueventually released as the official position of the presidency.

     

    Likewise, on restructuring, the all-knowing Malami had said barely 24 hours after the southern governors’ declaration that Buhari will not have anything to do with it. He tasked the governors to begin restructuring from their own end before they can ask the President to do his own. In effect, Malamiwas telling us that agitation for restructuring amounts to nothing as far as Buhari administration is concerned. Besides, the change agent that would have made the demand possible is also on the same page with Buhari’s cabal on the issue. The Senate President Hamed Lawan also frown on the demand for restructuring. Echoing what Malami had said earlier, Lawansaid, “I believe that as leaders, those of us who were elected must not be at the forefront of calling for this kind of thing. Because even if you are a governor, you are supposed to be working hard in your state to ensure that this restructuring you are calling for at the federal level you have done it in your state as well.” For toeing Malami’s line, Lawan was saying restructuring is a ‘no-go-area’ for the 9th Senate which he presides over.

     

    Penultimate Sunday, the All Progressive Congress, APC, leaders and governors in the southwest met in Lagos over the state of the nation. Without disappointing their critics, nothing tangible emanated from the hyped meeting. It was so disappointing that they tersely mentioned the havoc caused by the rampaging Fulani herdsmen and their kidnapper kith in the southwest. They spoke tongue-in-cheek about the invasion of Yoruba homeland by Fulani in their land grabbing and ethnic cleansing onslaughts. Trading off their people’s lives and ancestral land because of political ambition in the name of national unity is sacrilegious. Who does that? Fulani don’t care whose ox is gored when defending their own people and ethnic interests. We are all witnesses to how the presidency has become the defender-in-chief of herdsmen and their cows while Fulani governors dropped the garbs of civility and office to speak out for their nomadic people even when they do wrong. What has come over Yoruba people especially the political class? Why do they talk like slaves?

     

    For the Yoruba APC leaders to reiterate the call for restructuring is shameful. If they lack morals to know what is right for them to say, they should not embarrass themselves further. Maybe they thought we have forgotten. The same restructuring was number one in the campaign manifesto of the APC in 2014/15. They promised Nigerians that what the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, government lacked the will to do their party will do it. It is six years now, we are still talking about restructuring. It is the same Tinubu caucus that led the campaign at the time.

     

    I think Nigerians should scorn any politician that will use restructuring as a campaign issue again. They have taken us for a ride for too long. They are also banking on palliatives and money at polling stations to buy their way into office. They have perfected arrangements to compromise security agents and the judiciary including INEC officials to ensure their victory come 2023. Men propose but the almighty God disposes. Let’s wait and see what will happen between now and 2023 if Nigeria manages to survive till then.

     

    Back to Afenifere and those mouthing restructuring, it is a sad reality that it is an idea whose time has passed. There are compromised leaders in the south who “speak” for their people in the daytime but are in bed with the oppressors of the same people at night. They are mandated to keep their people under control so that things won’t go awry. Could that be the reason why some of the elders scare the determined peoplewith tales of wars, famines and the power of government to “kill” as narratives to keep them in check? Obsolete narrative like restructuring is allowed to dominate national discourse and the media space as a diversionary approach from allowing things to snowball into wild agitation. No wonder the southerngovernors, Yoruba APC leaders and regional leaders are all on the same page knowing full well that restructuring will never materialise under this government.

     

    The great Zik, Late Nnamdi Azikiwe said one cannot be doing the same thing the same way over and over again and expect a different result. If Afenifere has been calling for restructuring for the past 68 years and it does not think it is time to review its position, the group maybe preparing a fertile ground for the emergence of another leadership for Yoruba people whose agitation will be in sync with the yearnings, aspirations and thinking of the vast majority of the people. And this will devastate the calculations of self-serving political leaders whose charity only begins from outside and not at their home. Markets went up in flames in Yoruba land but they can donate to burnt markets in Arewa. Their people are dying of hunger here, across the Niger was their choice places to feed the poor. Yoruba people are now knowing their real leaders from dealers as the Nigerian nation unravels.

     

    Afenifere and its allies should embrace self-determination agitation as a realistic approach to liberate their people. I feel it is better we break the retrogressive yoke of exploitation and forced unity so that we can dwell in the sanctuary of our newnations than remain in the mortuary of Fulani imperialism. Changing tactics is not a sign of weakness or defeat, rather, it may likely bring the imperialists on their knees begging for restructuring. This time around, it won’t be according to their own terms but as it would deliver true federalism to the nation.

     

    More than anything else, I think the hoopla was not actually about the governors’ pronouncements on the ban on open grazing and restructuring; it is more about the guts that Southerners display that worry them. Otherwise, why should open grazing that was initially banned by northern governors in February 9, 2021, should become an issue? I’m inclined to believe that their ‘born to rule’ ego is bruised and subdued by whatever southern leaders and their people say or do. To corroborate this line of thought, when the Sultan, Alhaji Sa’adAbubakar III, said “seven to eight of every ten kidnappers are Fulani,” everybody kept mute but when Southerners expressed similar opinions, they were accused of “ethnic profiling.” Even their collaborators in the south were more vocal as they condemned any statement that singled out Fulani for any known crime. This is appalling! The fact that Southerners have the courage to decide for themselves is their major headache. This is part of the reasons we should go our separate ways. Let those who claim they have invested so much in the Nigerian project go and recover their investments. Anybody preaching “one Nigeria at all cost” should be ignored. If Britain could quit the European Union when it no longer served her interests, while should we be ready to die to keep Nigeria which is a creation of Britain?

     

    It is time for southern elites to confront and resist political subjugation, economic pillage, ethnic cleansing and mental slavery. They should unbundle the dubious national unity sustained by the tiny cabal that holds the rest of the nation down to their medieval mentality.

     

    Quote:

    “Anybody preaching “one Nigeria at all cost” should be ignored. If Britain could quit the European Union when it no longer served her interests, while should we be ready to die to keep Nigeria which is a creation of Britain?”

     

    • West wrote via mikeawe@yahoo.co.uk

    08035304268

  • ‘It is un-Islamic’, Gov Masari backs Southern colleagues on open grazing ban, restructuring

    ‘It is un-Islamic’, Gov Masari backs Southern colleagues on open grazing ban, restructuring

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Wednesday declared support for his southern colleagues on their stand against open grazing and calls for restructuring of the nation.

    Throwing his weight behind the governors’ stand on open grazing, Masari described the practice that encourages herders to move from one location to another as ‘“un-Islamic”.

    Masari shared his views with reporters at the Government House in Katsina as part of activities marking the second year of his second term in office.

    The governor argued that necessary infrastructure on Livestock farming should be provided in the states to discourage herders against wandering from one place to another.

    He said: “This is something we have to do through development, provide necessary infrastructure that will make the herders not to move. Why should herders from Katsina move to other states?

    “The herders’ movement is essentially in search of two things – water and fodder. If we can provide these two items, why should they move?”

    “This roaming about I don’t think. For us, it’s un-Islamic and is not the best. It is part of the problem we are having today. I don’t support that we should continue with the way open grazing is.”

    On devolution of power through restructuring, he argued that the states urgently needed resources to implement what should have been implemented at the federal level.

    He said: “I support devolution totally; the Federal Government is trying, but the states need to have resource to implement what should have been implemented by the Federal Government

    “If today, the states will support the police, the police system will go up. If the states withdraw their support to security agencies, they won’t be able to move here to there.

    “So, I absolutely support devolution in totality. So as a Government of Katsina we should be allowed by the constitution, within the constitution to decide on many things that are peculiar to us.

    “The federal government should have a benchmark and people should not operate beyond this mark. Lagos State is generating up to four hundred and something billion, while Katsina State is just generating two billion. I expect with proper restructuring, states should own the reflective of what they earn from within their state.

  • Restructuring: Concretise your demands, Group tells Southern Governors

    Restructuring: Concretise your demands, Group tells Southern Governors

    A group known as South South Study Group (3SG) on Sunday asked Southern Governors to concretise their demands on restructuring by going a step further to initiate collective action.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the group commended the governors for this unprecedented consensus and gladly joined them to emphasize the imperative of restructuring.

    The group urged the Southern Governors to go one step further to initiate collective action to make restructuring a concrete reality since the immediate consequence of restructuring is security and job creation which Nigerians sorely need at this point.

    “The collective words outlined by the Southern Governors as spelled out in the Communiqué carry the weight of the will and shared disappointment of the Southern people at the moribund state of Federal governance conveyed principally by the catastrophic state of insecurity and disastrous economic condition nationwide.

    “The timely intervention by the Southern Governors presents a watershed moment as the nation becomes a contested arena between the progressive will of the people and the regressive whims and caprices of a few.

    “It is for this reason that the commendable display of astutely effective diplomatic effort by the Southern Governors across party lines belies the urgency and need for relief as demanded by Southerners of all affiliation.

    “On this note, the Southern Governors must realise that now more than ever, regardless of party affiliation, the citizens of Southern Nigeria look up to this collective body of Southern Governors to protect them from rampaging marauders and bandits, to push forward their collective interests and hold many more positive Conferences also involving other Southern stakeholders in the immediate future for the sake of the rapidly deteriorating national state of affairs. Nigerians at home and in diaspora are waiting on edge with baited breath in expectation that this presents hope for a new beginning.

    “The Communiqué of the Southern Governors explicitly explains what Restructuring entails; review of resource control, revenue allocation formula, strict adherence to federal character principles in appointments and the shared interests of the Federating States.

    “It is pertinent to acknowledge that our festering national ills have been dramatically amplified by a current approach of gross insensitivity to the diversity and the multicultural nature of Nigeria. This complete neglect of the most primary characteristic of Federalism by the current Federal Government worsened the already festering national malaise.

    “The solutions to our national problems arising from diversity and multiculturalism were clearly stated only with slight differences and variations in the national conferences of 1995, 2005, and 2014. Interestingly, the ruling party in its review of the National Question reaffirmed these same solutions based on the imperative of Restructuring.

    “What has been lacking is the WILL to go beyond mere words.

    “SOUTH SOUTH STUDY GROUP (3SG) calls for an immediate implementation by Southern Governors of principles of Restructuring within its collective will as it has done with the ban of open grazing.

    “SOUTH SOUTH STUDY GROUP (3SG) calls for a national referendum preceding any elections to settle these fundamental national issues that will inform the drafting of a new Federal Constitution.

    “All well meaning Nigerians can then put hands together to build a new Nigeria of our collective dreams,” a statement for 3SG by Otoks Dan Princewill reads.

  • Okowa knocks Senate President over take on Southern Governors’ calls for restructuring, others

    Okowa knocks Senate President over take on Southern Governors’ calls for restructuring, others

    Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa on Saturday responded to Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan for saying that Southern Governors are not supposed to speak on the issues of restructuring and the need for a national dialogue.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Senate President while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, said he was not against those calling for restructuring but elected officials must not be among those advocating for such calls.

    He said: “The call for secession or the call for restructuring, many are genuine calls even though I never believe that someone who is calling for secession means well or is a misguided person.

    “But I believe that when somebody calls for improving the structure that we have is a genuine call.

    “But I want to advice here, I believe that as leaders those of us who were elected must not be at the forefront of calling for this kind of thing because even if you are a governor you are supposed to be working hard in your state to ensure that this restructuring you are calling for at the federal level you have done it in your state as well.

    “This is because what you may accuse the federal government of whatever it is, you may also be accused of the same thing in your state.

    “So, we are supposed to ensure that we have a complete and total way of ensuring that our systems at the federal, state and even local government work for the people, and that we allow people to participate in governance so that whoever feels that he has something to offer to make Nigeria better does so freely without any hindrance,’’ the Senate President said.

    However, in a swift response, Governor Okowa who spoke at an empowerment Programme sponsored by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu in Asaba said the Senate President take on the Southern Governors restructuring call was unfortunate.

    The governor said what the southern governors said was not new as such positions has variously been canvassed by Nigerians including the APC and PDP.

    He said “unfortunately, I read in the paper somebody saying that we ought not to speak on certain things because we are elected people. If you cannot echo the voice of your people, then you are not worthy of that position you are holding.

    “All those things that we said in our communique are not new. They have been spoken by our people and what we did was just echo their wishes,” Okowa said.

  • Elder statesman, Edwin Clark rejects secession voices, backs restructuring

    Elder statesman, Edwin Clark rejects secession voices, backs restructuring

    Elder statesman Edwin Clark has cautioned against calls for secession in some parts of the country.

    Clark in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Saturday explained that calls for secession in some quarters were not the solution to the country’s problems.

    He said he did not believe in Nigeria’s breakup in spite of rising insecurity and economic challenges in the country.

    According to him, rather than fan the embers of war by making secession calls, workable strategies should be evolved to solve the problem of insecurity and other challenges making life unbearable for Nigerians.

    “Nigeria will remain one. Some of us do not believe in the call for secession. Where do we go to, who are we leaving the country for, who owns it.

    “We cannot flee, where do we go. Though I am seeing this danger but I do not believe that Nigeria will split.

    “Recently 17 Southern governors met and they also agreed that Nigeria will remain one. They are not just PDP but also APC governors.

    “Even during the civil war in 1967, we never believed Nigeria would break up and the war eventually ended in 1970.

    “That was the nearest we got to breaking up but Nigeria did not break up,” he said.

    The elder statesman called for restructuring rather than call for break up.

    He referred to reports of the 2014 National Conference and the committee headed by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, saying the recommendations would go a long way.

    He said, “all we are saying is that we should restructure the country. Let us devolve power to the states. They should be the federating units.

    “We should refer to the 2014 National Conference report of over 600 recommendations. We do not need to convoke another confab.

    “The confab report in addition to what APC produced under Gov. Nasir El-rufai’s committee are enough to create a true federal system of government in Nigeria.”

    Clark stressed that unless Nigeria returned to a federal system of government, as obtained in 1963, the restructuring process would not be complete.

    “Let us have a federal system of government as we had in 1963. Once that is done, there will be peace in Nigeria. With that, every region will have a State Police.

    “So, the only cure to the problem of insecurity in Nigeria is to return to the 1963 Constitution with a few amendments.”

    He further said, “I have been in politics for about 70 years in this country and I have seen it all.

    “In 1960, there was the Independent Constitution, drawn up in Britain by the Whites and Nigerians.

    “They agreed that this country has more than 250 ethnic nationalities, therefore a unitary form of government will not work and that there should be a federation which we had.

    “The 1960 constitution made it that every region had its own constitution and develop at their own pace and keep half of what is developed in their area.

    “That was why Obafemi Awolowo was able to develop the West because we had the cocoa boom at the time. The price of cocoa was very high in the international market.

    “So he was able to introduce free primary education which other regions could not do at the time.”

    He blamed the military for the present economic and security challenges faced by Nigerians, saying the military changed into a unitary form of government.

    “Aguiyi Ironsi changed this country into a unitary government.

    “It continued until the Army handed over in 1999 and they left behind a unitary form of constitution.

    “That is why we are facing so much problem as a nation and that is why we are calling for restructuring,” he said.

    On attacks on schools, Clark called for provision of security in and around schools through the building of fences and adequate surveillance.

    He said that it might not be possible to guard all schools with the few number of security men in the country.

    He advised that vigilantes could be employed to provide the Police with necessary information in the case of attempted attacks.

    He, however, kicked against mounting surveillance cameras in schools, saying, “it will not work unless the people are ready to prevent kidnapping and other forms of attacks in schools.

    “Even if we mount CCTVs they will be compromised as has happened on different occasions in some parts of the country.

  • What Gbajabiamila said about Southern Governors’ calls for restructuring – Reps

    What Gbajabiamila said about Southern Governors’ calls for restructuring – Reps

    The House of Representatives has said that Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila is not opposed to the call by Southern Governors for the restructuring of the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that seventeen (17) Southern Governors had convened on Tuesday in Asaba, the Delta State capital and had demanded for the nation’s restructuring, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation and to also convene a national dialogue.

    But the House via a statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, Benjamin Kalu, said the Speaker and indeed the current leadership of the House has shown commitment to total review of the 1999 constitution to meet the yearning and aspiration of the Nigerian people.

    “The attention of the House has been drawn to several publications on online and traditional media claiming that the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, is opposed to the Southern Governors’ call for restructuring,” the statement partly read.

    “The House gathers that this allegation was attributed to statements made by the Speaker at a recent interview seeking his opinion on the issue. The House states clearly and unequivocally that the publications are false and misleading.”

    SEE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

    The Speaker did not say He is opposed to the Southern Governors’ calls for restructuring

    The attention of the House has been drawn to several publications on online and traditional media claiming that the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, is opposed to the Southern Governors’ call for restructuring. The House gathers that this allegation was attributed to statements made by the Speaker at a recent interview seeking his opinion on the issue. The House states clearly and unequivocally that the publications are false and misleading.

    For the avoidance of doubt, below is an accurate reproduction of the statements made by the Speaker at that interview;

    “This is not a time for name-calling or blaming one person or the other. If truth be told, we all have equal shares in the blame and whatever challenges we have, we all must come together. In the same way we all have equal shares, we must all come together to make sure that we resolve whatever issues there are. Like I said earlier, the greatest nations have gone through challenges worse than this and I believe that it is that spirit of oneness and that spirit of togetherness and unity and love that will take us through this. You know sometimes there are many things that people have said here and there and you never know where these things are coming from. Sometimes God even puts you through challenges so that you can come out of it stronger, bigger, better, bolder. That’s what I believe is gonna happen to Nigeria. We’re all put together in this one geographical space for a reason. It wasn’t by happenstance or coincidence or by chance. It was ordained by Almighty God and He doesn’t make mistakes, He doesn’t go wrong. What He decrees is what will be and I believe He put us all together. No matter your religion, no matter your ethnicity, talking about over 250 ethnic groups in one country, it is that diversity that God had foreseen that I believe we should tap into as Nigerians. I have belief in the Nigerian resilience and in the Nigerian spirit; and in the spirit of Ramadan, we must continue to pray.”

    It is clear to objective reason that nothing in the above statement opposes the Southern Governors’ call for restructuring. Indeed, from the beginning of the 9th Assembly, the House under the leadership of Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has reiterated its commitment to a thorough review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as can be seen by the composition and activities of the Constitutional Review Committee of the House.

    The media is hereby cautioned to be mindful of peddling false news in the bid to misinform the general public. This is misleading and detrimental to our democracy as a nation. Like the Speaker rightly said, this is not a time to apportion blames rather this is a time for us to come together and deliberate on issues that have birthed the problem we are facing as a nation and to find a suitable solution to it.

    The House urges Nigerians to disregard this news and continue to pray for a peaceful Nigeria.

     

    Signed,

    Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu

    Spokesperson

    House of Representatives

  • Why Governors, other elected public officials should not join calls for restructuring – Senate President

    Why Governors, other elected public officials should not join calls for restructuring – Senate President

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan has cautioned governors and other elected leaders against joining the agitations for secession or calling for restructuring of the country.

    Lawan, who stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, said he was not against those calling for restructuring but elected officials must not be among those advocating for such calls.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Lawan’s position is coming barely three days after the 17 southern governors after a meeting in Delta State banned open grazing and also demanded immediate restructuring of the country.

    According to him, state governors must ensure that they restructure their respective states first before calling for restructuring at the federal level.

    He said: “The call for secession or the call for restructuring, many are genuine calls even though I never believe that someone who is calling for secession means well or is a misguided person.

    “But I believe that when somebody calls for improving the structure that we have is a genuine call.

    “But I want to advice here, I believe that as leaders those of us who were elected must not be at the forefront of calling for this kind of thing because even if you are a governor you are supposed to be working hard in your state to ensure that this restructuring you are calling for at the federal level you have done it in your state as well.

    “This is because what you may accuse the federal government of whatever it is, you may also be accused of the same thing in your state.

    “So, we are supposed to ensure that we have a complete and total way of ensuring that our systems at the federal, state and even local government work for the people, and that we allow people to participate in governance so that whoever feels that he has something to offer to make Nigeria better does so freely without any hindrance.’’

    The senate president said Nigerians must come together regardless of their religious, ethnic or political persuasions to find lasting solutions to the nation challenges.

    He, therefore, called on all elected leaders across the three tiers of government to always avoid primordial sentiments capable of creating division and social discontent among Nigerians.

    “We should avoid partisanship, we should avoid regionalism. We are all leaders and we are in this together. The solution must come from us regardless of what level of government we are – whether at the federal, state or even at the local government level,’’ he added.

    Lawan also frowned at the way and manner local government system was relegated to the background in the country, saying for the nation to address its security challenges the local government system must be functional and efficient.

    “I want to take this opportunity also to say that we have diminished the local government system. I think we can attribute some of the security issues to the lack of functional local government system.

    “For me, I think the time has come for us to take up the challenge to ensure that the local government system functions. This is in keeping with looking for ways, for means, for solutions to the security challenges that we face. We must never neglect the local government system.

    “I believe that this is one system that had worked even though in a different name. When it was Native Authority it was very effective, very efficient.

    “So, we must go back to our local government to ensure that the local government continues to be autonomous, continues to be functional in order to compliment whatever the States and the Federal Government would be doing.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who also spoke to the correspondents, called for a national spirit of oneness, saying that “If truth be told, we all have equal shares in the blame for what’s happening today.

    “Whatever challenges we have, we must all come together to make sure that we resolve these issues we’re facing.

    “We must imbibe that spirit of oneness, togetherness, unity and love that would take us through this.”

    He enjoined Nigerians to always be their brothers’ keepers and avoid acts capable of creating social unrest.

  • PANDEF hails Southern Governors decisions on restructuring, insecurity

    PANDEF hails Southern Governors decisions on restructuring, insecurity

    Members of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) have applauded the resolutions of Southern Governors on restructuring, state of insecurity, open grazing and others.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that a meeting of Governors of the 17 states of the Southern region was held in Asaba Delta State on Tuesday to review the current state of the Nation especially as it concerns the spiking state of insecurity, activities of herdsmen/ open grazing, the 1999 constitution, Federal appointments, among other issues, and critical decisions were taken.

    Thirteen of the Governors were present in the meeting; two states were represented by their Deputy Governors, while two others were conspicuously absent.

    PANDEF in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers state Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson praised the decisions of the Governors, describing it as far reaching.

    The group also commended the agreement by the Leaders to meet to discuss these boiling issues that are seriously threatening the unity of the nation, noting that the gathering was fruitful and met PANDEF’s expectations.

    Robinson in the statement said, “PANDEF applauds the meeting of 17 southern governors, decisions on restructuring, insecurity, skewed federal appointments, open grazing among others.

    “With the things going on in the country, we had expected them to meet before now but it is a good thing that they have met. It is a welcomed development.

    “This would not only foster cooperation among the governors and people of the southern states but also strengthen the nation’s democracy.

    “We have also seen the communique that they issued. It is very commendable.

    “Their resolutions reemphasized our positions, particularly, on restructuring; open grazing, and the alarming state of insecurity.”

  • How 9th Senate will achieve restructuring – Senator Folarin

    How 9th Senate will achieve restructuring – Senator Folarin

    Senator Teslim Folarin (APC-Oyo Central) has said that the 9th Senate would achieve restructuring by expunging `Exclusive List’ from the Constitution to allow devolution of powers.

    Addressing newsmen on Sunday during a Ramadan Lecture/Iftar in Ibadan, Folarin said that devolution of powers would drive home restructuring by allowing states to develop at their own pace.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Folarin, a former Senate Leader, is member of the Constitution Amendment Committee at the Red Chamber.

    “I belong to the restructuring school of thought and thankfully, I am a member of the Constitution Amendment Committee. What we need to do is to restructure.

    “There is something in the Constitution that is called Exclusive List, we need to get rid of that. Once we get rid of the exclusive list, we are home and dry.

    “What it means is that every state would have to develop at its own pace and you will then begin to hold our leaders accountable.

    “Going cap-in-hand to Abuja every month to collect allocation is not sustainable, it breeds laziness,’’ he said.

    The former senate leader said that Nigeria was not practicing true federalism as being practiced in the US, saying states in America control their resources.

    He said that once the states were allowed to develop their natural resources and pay tax to the Federal Government, Nigeria would be okay.

    Folarin express belief in one united Nigeria, saying there is very beauty in the nation’s diversity.

    He said:“I think Nigeria in diversity is a beautiful country, but only if we get it right. We will do our best.

    “I believe in One Nigeria, I believe in Nigeria. I think Nigeria is a beautiful project that we should all support only if we restructure it.’’

    He described the just concluded APC membership registration in the state as very impressive, saying close to two million members in Oyo were registered in the exercise.

    “I don’t have my fact, but the report we are getting, we should be close to two million.

    “I am not surprised because the people understand that the only way to salvation, so to speak, is APC. APC is, for me, the party to beat.’’

    Folarin blamed the worsening economic situation of the country on the effect of the global coronavirus pandemic.

    “The president came in at a very difficult time. COVID-19 has almost brought the world economy to its knees and you know Nigeria cannot operate in isolation of the world economy.

    “In the western countries, their economies are being driven by Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. If you go there now, most of these shops are closed,” he said.

    “And you see, whether you like or not, If the western economies are still `sick’ we will remain sick.

    “That is the truth of the matter. Our mainstay is oil. During this COVID period, there was a time when oil fell to as low as 20 dollars per barrel.

    “Aviation industry, a major user of oil, is almost grounded. I am not making excuses, we always have our problems, when you add this to it, this is what you will get,” he said.