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Tag: Restructuring

  • Nigeria will benefit from restructuring, says Awolowo-Dosunmu

    Dr (Mrs) Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Co-Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc (ANN), on Tuesday restated calls for the restructuring of Nigeria, saying every part of the country would benefit from it.

    Awolowo-Dosunmu made the call while speaking to newsmen on the sideline of a Town Hall Meeting organised by the Yoruba Youth Council (YYC) Worldwide at the House of Chiefs, Ibadan.

    The former Ambassador to the Netherlands said that the clamour for restructuring was neither tribalistic nor divisive, saying every part of the country would benefit from it.

    “It is for the benefit of the whole nation and once that is done in a multi-ethnic country, then the tension goes down and we can deal with one another in a civil manner.

    “The size of Nigeria will work for us because trading between ourselves and all the rest of the country will benefit every part of Nigeria.
    “It’s been done before and that was when we recorded the greatest stride in devolpment. You know sometimes we need to go back to the ancient landmarks in order to move forward,” the Nigerian Tribune publisher said.

    She stated that people like late Chief Obafemi Awolowo were able achieve tremendously because the constitution empowered them.
    Awolowo-Dosunmu said that every part of the country had resources to develop itself, adding that the people have stopped working, thinking and being creative about the business of development.

    Shensaid:“ On behalf of our generation, I am apologising for the young Nigerians for us not been able to bequeath to them part of what we benefitted while we were growing up.

    “It is now up to them to change if they have to realise that. It is also up to them to change things. They need to have the vision and develop the courage to tell the world what their vision is for a better Nigeria.

    “And to work for a better Nigeria, there are no short cuts, they have to work for it. They also have to rise up and say what they want and how they want to make it better.’’

    Mr Opeyemi Agbaje, the Guest Lecturer, said that the nation needed restructuring, federalism and regional autonomy to attain greater success like it was experienced in the 50s.

    Agbaje, said that the Yoruba youth must rise up to the challenges of building a greater Yoruba nation.
    “We have to reclaim the heritage of federalism, devolution of powers, state police, weak centre and resource control.
    “Federalism is not a mistake but a conscious choice. Nigeria’s Independence and unity could not have been possible if not under federalism,’’ he said.

    Earlier, Mr Eric Oluwole, the YYC president, in his address, said the nation was in dire need of restructuring, adding that Nigeria could no longer pretend to be on top of the situation.

    Oluwole said that only a sincere restructuring could guarantee a Yoruba nation of their dream and by extension give other federating units clear sense of direction.

    Prof. Adeyemi Aderibigbe, the Chairman of the occasion, urged youths to be truthful, sincere and more focused in their campaign for a better society.
    TNG reports that the event was attended by prominent traditional rulers, academics and hosts of youths from across the country.

  • Northern senators, governors converge on Katsina over restructuring, 2018 budget

    The Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF) and the 19 northern governors would on Monday converge on Katsina for a three-day retreat to deliberate on the agitations for restructuring of the country.

    The Chairman of the forum, Abdullahi Adamu, told newsmen in Abuja that the retreat would also focus on how to improve the security situation in the country.

    It would be recalled that for the same reason of agitations for restructuring and other challenges facing the country, Southern Senators met recently in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    Mr. Adamu, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District, said that the Forum had written letters of invitation to the 19 governors, leading traditional rulers, top politicians and ex-senators from the region to make presentations at the retreat.

    He said that the gathering would enable the senators, as the peoples’ representatives, to take a common position on restructuring.

    “It is expected that very important stakeholders will be attending. Northern governors will be attending in solidarity and very eminent traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, will attend.

    “Essentially, we will be discussing the impact of budget in the north, the issue of restructuring which is now the main issue in politics.

    “The issue of restructuring that the Senate can develop a position on. It is part of preparing ourselves to face that challenge.

    “The issue of security will also be discussed,” Adamu said.

    He pointed out that as representatives of the people, it would be expected that with the retreat, they would be better educated, better placed to consider issues related to the subject-matter.

    “We will be better prepared to face the matter and legislate and make laws over them for the good governance of Nigeria.

    “We believe we are there to educate ourselves to be better informed, to exchange ideas on the subject matter, because we make laws, we don’t make laws out of ignorance.

    “We have to be better informed on anything we are talking about,” Mr. Adamu said.

    He explained that meeting in Katsina was not necessarily because of the economic impact it would have on the city and state or how it would energise Nigeria’s politics, “but for some sort of our presence will make.’’

    “There hasn’t been this retreat over time. We are trying to bring back the culture.

    “It makes us have touch with our bases; people who elected us and feel our pulse, we will relate with them in a better way,” he said.

     

  • Restructuring without end – Owei Lakemfa

    Restructuring without end – Owei Lakemfa

    By Owei Lakemfa
    To live, is to die. It is an inevitable process. That might have been why William Shakespeare wrote in ‘Julius Caesar’ that he is amazed why human beings fear death because: “Death is a necessary end, it will come when it will come” Like death, so is it with restructuring which simply means the running of something like an organization, polity or country in an innovative, novel, different or new way. In other words, restructuring is an inevitable part of life.
    When some politicians got fed up with the then ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) they launched a coalition, the All Progressives Congress (APC) on February 6, 2013 to restructure the country along the path of ‘Change’
    Given his antecedents, I do not lose sleep that Professor Ango Abdullahi is opposed to restructuring. His ignoble role in destroying the education of many youths in 1980/81 through vindictive and political mass expulsions, and in the police killing of four students in 1986, do not lend him to be taken serious. But I worry when an elder statesman like Alhaji Salihu Abubakar Tanko Yakasai campaigns against it. He has been active in the progressive politics of change since the 1950s. He fought against the feudal system and for the emancipation of the ‘Talakawa’ (the poor masses) Some nationalists like Alao Aka-Bashorun and Baba Omojola under whose tutelage some of us came, used to tell us that if we need progressive Pan-Nigerians with whom to ally in the North, we should look in the direction of Yakasai.
    In 1990 when there was a movement to restructure the country through a National Conference that would consign military rule to the dustbin of history and enthrone a fair federalism, the then dictatorship of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida announced that all those who attended the Conference will be sent to jail for five years. Alhaji Yakasai, a member of the National Consultative Forum (NCF) which organized that National Conference, was one of those who courageously stepped forward to attend the Conference preferring to go to jail in order that our country be restructured.
    In his autobiography “The Story of a humble life” the elder statesman confessed he was one of those in the Contact Committee who one Friday in 1966, organized a protest against the Ironsi Unification Decree in Kano. He wrote that: “The whole thing suddenly turned into an orgy of anti-Igbo violence, which degenerated into a major confrontation…Before the police could intervene, the situation was completely out of hand. Many innocent people were killed, maimed or had their property destroyed…On hearing what happened in Kano, other places like Zaria,
    Kaduna, Jos and Makurdi reacted in similar fashion with grave consequences”
    It was this fire, lit in Kano, that like an harmattan fire turned into the huge conflagration known as the progrom that eventually resulted in the Civil War in which over two million people died. I have no doubt that Yakasia regretted the outcome of that protest. Today, at 91 and in the twilight of his life, he can assist the country to move forward by dropping his opposition to restructuring the country based on the progressive principles of his early life.
    I admit that at any given time, restructuring cannot be “fair to all concerned” nor “ Will it be beneficial to all concerned” That is the type of illusory code the Rotary Club pushes. In reality, there are those who benefit from the current imbalance and would feel that they would be losing some privileges if there is a change in the system. They should be comforted that restructuring will be based on social justice and that on the long run, all Nigerians shall be winners.
    There are also those who realizing that restructuring is an unstoppable train, try to impose conditions such as that it is only the National Assembly (NASS) that can restructure the country. This is illusory. First, if Nigeria were a school and restructuring an examination, the NASS that has carried out a number constitutional amendments to restructure the country and failed, would have been expelled. Secondly, the skewed structure of the NASS is one of the reasons for the restructuring demand for a fundamental devolution of power. Thirdly, there are many who do not think we need twin chambers in the NASS. In other words, they want either the Senate or House of Representatives abolished; preferably, the latter. Fourthly, if constitutionally and universally, sovereignty belongs to the people from whom all power must flow, the people must have a say in the future of their country and not be consigned to the margins because the military-imposed constitution says so. I am not one of those under the illusion that that the NASS can be trusted to preside over the reduction of its powers.
    There are also those who rule that the unity of the country is not negotiable. I love the sound of it, but what constitutes unity? This argument reminds me of the Babangida dictatorship which ruled that there can be no alternative to any of its programmmes like its fraudulent ‘Transition Progamme’ So those who voiced alternative programmes, were detained. When it introduced the ruinous ‘Structural Adjustment Programme’ it decreed that to this, ‘There Is No Alternative’ (TINA) But the noted economist, Professor Sam Aluko replied that there is alternative to everything including life, which is death.
    The history of Nigeria, is the story of constant restructuring. When colonial Britain tried to save on administrative funds and run its Southern and Northern Protectorates and the Lagos Crown Colony as a single administration unit, it amalgamated them in 1914 and reduced the three capitals to one; Lagos. It created three regions with Divisions as sub units. When the minority agitations in post-colonial Nigeria could no longer be contained, the country was restructured in 1963 into four Regions, and in 1967, into 12 States and further into 19 states before ending in the present 36 States. In 1976, following restructuring, Local Governments were created.
    Everywhere you turn, there is restructuring going on; one of the latest being the restructuring of the Ibadan Monarchy from a single king, the Olubadan, to 22 kings.
    The 1967 Aburi Accord was about restructuring the country and the military, the failure to implement that Accord was one of the major reasons that led to the Civil War.
    In contrast to those opposed to restructuring, those in favour are behaving as if restructuring is like the Kingdom of God which would come in one fell swoop. They are not approaching it as basic socio-economic and political re-engineering designed to address human concerns. More importantly, they neglect the content such as Nigerians right to food, shelter, education, healthcare and good governance; they are rather concerned with the form.
  • Why Nigeria can’t restructure – Gowon

    Why Nigeria can’t restructure – Gowon

    Former head of state, Yakubu Gowon has said the current composition of Nigeria makes it difficult for restructuring to take place – considering “Nigeria is made up of over 500 ethnic groups, languages and dialects“.

    The Former Head of State gave the statement while speaking at Minna, Niger State. According to him, there would be various definitions of what restructuring is by the various ethnic groups and that this would make it impossible for the groups to come to general conclusion as to what it really should be.

    General Gowon who urged for a united Nigeria however doubted the buoyancy in finance by state governments to fend for themselves if the country is to be restructured to regional bases as being pushed by some.

    According to him, “Nigeria is made up of over 500 ethnic groups, languages and dialects and so many various groups called nationalities and they want restructuring. “This restructuring everybody is asking for, we will have about 500 different ideas of restructuring.

    There is call for restructuring to reduce the number of states to only a few either back to the old region or to the zones.”

    “Those are some of the ideas that I do not know whether it will be possible for any state today to wish to be merged with another state. Let us see whether our politicians will see guidelines to be able to achieve what they want. “But I have my problem whether the states will be financially capable so they will be able to run there states properly.”

  • Southern Nigerian governors demand true federalism, devolution of powers

    The governors of the 17 states of Southern Nigeria on Monday demanded devolution of powers to states from the federal government.

    The governors also reiterated their commitment to the growth of Nigeria.

    They spoke through a joint communique issued after they met in Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The governors met twelve years after their last meeting held in Lagos. The first summit took place in 2001 and the last in 2005.

    The communique, read by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, also stated that the governors reiterated their commitment to true federalism and devolution of powers.

    They also stated their commitment to a united, indivisible Nigeria and called for effective linkage of infrastructure in the southern part of the country.

    The summit also appointed Mr. Ambode as chairman of the forum and governors Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa as co-chairmen.

    The forum scheduled the next meeting for Port Harcourt, on a yet to be announced date.

    Aside Ambode, governors present include Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti , Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun ; Ondo State governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu; Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and Oyo State governor, Mr Abiola Ajimobi.

    Also present were the Governors of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki; Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Akwa Ibom State, Mr Emmanuel Udom and Ebonyi State, David Umahi .

    The Deputy Governors of Anambra, Dr Nkem Okeke , and Cross River State, Prof. Ivara Esu were also present at the event.

    However, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was absent.

  • Southern governors converge on Lagos, rekindle restructuring debate

    The 17 governors from the South-west, South-east and South-south were on Monday, all represented in Lagos on Monday to discuss latest national issues as well as forge stronger partnership among states in the region.

    The Southern Governors’ summit 2017 is coming after 12 years of a similar gathering.

    A statement by the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Tunji Bello, said the meeting would be co-hosted by the Governors of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode and Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom.

    Mr. Bello said the meeting is in line with the realisation that the different states in the South have since 2005 developed several areas of comparative advantage which could be harnessed and become mutually beneficial.

    According to him, the governors would also be expected to adopt a common position on the issues of armed robbery, kidnapping, devolution of powers and issue of fiscal federalism which have all gained prominence of late.

    “The 2017 Lagos summit of the 17 Southern Governors representing the South-south, South-west and South-east zones is expected to come up with a communiqué after the deliberation.

    “It is noteworthy to recall that the inaugural meeting of the Southern Governors took place in Lagos in 2001 under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Mr. Bello said.

    The statement added that the predominance of views is that if the Southern states speak with one voice, they are bound to attract weighty and credible listenership.

    Governors from the South-east and South-south zones have been meeting intermittently with the latest on October 9 in Owerri where they rejected calls for the breakup of the country while rallying support for its continued existence as an indivisible entity.

    The Governors present at the Southern Governors’ summit 2017 include the Six S’west Govs: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose; Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun; Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi. Also present are the Governor’s of: Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Emmanuel Udom and Ebonyi State, David Umahi .

  • We won’t discard APC’s restructuring committee report – Reps

    The House of Representatives has said it won’t trash the report of the All Progressives Congress (APC) committee on True Federalism set up by the party to present its stand on the ongoing debate on restructuring and true federalism.

    The lawmakers said they will act on the recommendations of the final report to bring about stability in the country’s democracy.

    Speaking on the sideline of the ongoing public hearing by the APC Committee on True Federalism, spokesman of the House of Reps, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas assure that the lawmakers would not discard the report when it is presented to them.

    “We are products of this party. Every lawmaker came to the National Assembly on the platform of various political parties and this committee was put together by our own party. So, naturally we (APC Committee) will collate views of the people here and send it to the party and the reason why we are part of it is that no view can be said to be ‘independent’. It has to come through a legislation.

    “Even the President said in his speech that the only recognized group that can talk about this is the National Assembly. But the National Assembly too is a product of the people. You cannot on your own amend things to suit the people. You have to collate views from them.

    “So, when these views are collated and sent to us, I can assure you that we are going to work on it. I told you that I am a member of the National Assembly Committee on Agitations. We call it agitations but it is restructuring.

    “We realized after we voted that Nigerians are more interested in the devolution of powers and certainly, some of these states are not viable because they cannot get revenue on their own. If you devolve the powers to the states and probably restructure the revenue allocation (template), these states will be viable and they can generate revenue and pay their salaries,” he stated.

    Namdas hailed Nigerian women for coming of age, advising them to organize and translate their numerical strength into tangible political gains.

    Chairman of the committee, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state restated the commitment of the committee to be fair in compiling its final report as all shades of opinion expressed at its public hearings would be reflected.

    El-Rufai who was represented by a member of the committee and former governor of Edo state, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor APC said the committee has also resolved to forward the report to the lawmakers as well as forward a framework of its implementation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A cross-section of women groups at the hearing advocated the greater inclusion of women in Nigeria’s restricted and patriarchal political space, saying for every position occupied by a man, a woman must be made to deputize and vice versa.

  • Obaseki, Anyaoku back calls for restructuring

    A former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, has said that Nigeria will fare better if the ongoing call to restructure the country into regions is adhered to.

    Mr. Anyaoku gave this view on Friday shortly after paying a courtesy visit to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, at Government House, Benin City.

    He said that Nigeria’s economy was more viable and rate of development faster when it operated a regional system of government.

    He described Mr. Obaseki as a visionary governor, saying Edo State ”is fortunate to have him.”

    Responding, Mr. Obaseki said that given the cost of governance at the centre, restructuring is inevitable if Nigeria must make progress as a country.

    He extolled the leadership quality of Mr. Anyaoku, adding that the former scribe of the Commonwealth stands for good governance and part of the generation that did the nation proud while in office.

    “He is an international personality who stands for good governance and diplomatic skills,” Mr. Obaseki said.

     

  • Restructuring: MURIC demands declaration of Friday work free, establishment of Sharia courts in South-Western states, others

    A pro-Islam Nigerian rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has presented its demands to the Federal Government as calls for the restructuring of the country deepens.

    In a statement sent to issued on Monday, the group asked the federal government to declare Friday a work-free day to allow Muslims worship just as Sunday has been set aside for Christians.

    The group made five other crucial demands. Read full statement below.

    RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA: MUSLIMS SEEK SIX RELIEFS

    The Federal Government appears set for restructuring particularly with the setting up of a committee on this crucial matter by the ruling party, the All Peoples’ Congress (APC). Restructuring became popular after the South East, South South and a section of the South West complained about marginalization. Several politicians from both the opposition and the ruling party have since spoken in support of this clamour.

    However, we of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) dissociate ourselves from all agitations for secession. We condemn all irredentist movements rearing their ugly heads in Southern Nigeria, particularly the agitation for the creation of Oduduwa Republic. We affirm clearly, unambiguously and unequivocally, that Muslim leaders in Yorubaland were not carried along before those demands were tabled. Nonetheless, just as some ethnic groups have complained of disaffections, we contend that Nigerian Muslims also nurse serious grudges bordering on marginalization against the Nigerian state.

    We must start from the lanes of history because today was born from the wombs of yesterday. Islam has been in Nigeria since the 11th century and the British met Islam on ground when they arrived in the 19th century (800 years later). The British did not deem it fit to observe the rules of natural justice when they colonized the country as all Islamic landmarks were eliminated and supplanted with a wholly Christian system.

    This injustice may have been at the root of frequent religious crisis in Nigeria because successive governments after independence refused to listen to the agitations of Muslims for a review of the status quo. The issues being raised by Muslims are listed in the following paragraphs so that the authorities may address them when restructuring eventually begins.

    One: Nigerians enjoy a total of eight (8) public holidays in a year. These are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy. Five (5) of the eight holidays belong to Christians (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 1st January, i.e, New Year Day, Good Friday and Easter Monday). Only three (3) holidays belong to Muslims, viz, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy.

    Restructuring should give Muslims 1st Muharram. This will bring the total number of Muslim holidays to four while Christian holidays remain five.

    Two: Christian marriages contracted inside churches or registries are held sacrosanct everywhere in Nigeria whereas Muslim marriages (nikah) are not recognized for any official purpose. Muslim couples find themselves in a cul de sac each time they presented their Islamic marriage certificates for official purposes. It is paradoxical that in a democracy, one marriage conducted by a religious group is acceptable while the other is not. What kind of constitution is Nigeria using?

    Islamic marriages should be recognized in all official circles where Christian marriages are recognized. The Nigerian Marriage Act (1990) should therefore be revisited.

    Three: Nigeria has a two-day weekend, viz, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was a half day during the colonial era and Sunday was the only full day at the weekend. However, Saturday was made a full day to favour the Seventh Day Adventists, a Christian denomination during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, a Christian military ruler. It is very clear, therefore, that the two weekend days recognized in Nigeria belong to Christians while Muslims have none since Friday, the Muslim day of worship, remains a working day.

    It is pertinent to note that Friday was a work-free day until the British brought Christianity and stopped Muslims from enjoying their Allah-given fundamental human right. The relief we are seeking through restructuring is that Friday should be declared free to assume parity with the Christians’ Sunday. While we are not seeking anarchy, we are confident that the Federal Government (FG) has all the paraphernalia of administration to work out the modalities.

    Four: Immigration officials engage in regular stereotyping of Muslims who apply for international passports. They intimidate Muslims particularly at the point of taking pictures. Muslim males are ordered to remove their caps; Imams are coerced into removing their turbans; bearded Muslims are compelled to shave or trim their beards; hijab-wearing Muslim women are made to remove their hijabs or ordered to draw their hijab backwards to reveal their ears. The same scenario plays itself out in driving licence, national identity card offices and during registration for elections.

    In the process, thousands of Muslims have been denied international passports, driving licences and national identity cards while millions have been disenfranchised during elections. The authorities must find a way of stopping the persecution and profiling of Muslims.

    Five: Uniformed groups in Nigeria, including the army, police, uniformed voluntary groups, nurses, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), students of primary and secondary schools, etc, use uniforms designed by the Christian colonialists. These uniforms should have been reviewed after independence because they only suit the Christians. Some of them constitute breaches to Islamic dress code and offend the sensibility of Muslims who are compelled to wear the uniforms regardless of their inner feeling of resentment.

    In view of the fact that Western countries like Britain, Canada and the United States have designed uniforms with hijab for their female Muslim police, soldiers, students, etc, Nigeria’s restructuring authorities should borrow a leaf from those countries.

    Six: There is no single Shari’ah court in South Western Nigeria where Muslims constitute the majority. This is contrary to what obtained in Yorubaland before the advent of the British. There were Shariah courts in Ede, Iwo, Ikirun, Ibadan, etc. Yoruba Muslims are now compelled to take their civil matters like inheritance, marriage, etc to Christo-Western courts. This is preposterous and unacceptable.

    We demand the establishment of Shariah courts in all South Western states including Edo State where there is a significant percentage of Muslims.

    We call the attention of FG and the restructuring committee of the APC to the above six reliefs. Muslims are in bondage in this country and we believe that restructuring should emancipate people in captivity. APC promised change. This change can only be meaningful to us if it breaks the shackles around our necks. We have begged enough for the restoration of our Allah-given and fundamental human rights. We are tired of begging. Restructuring is about reapportioning the dividends of democracy such that it goes round and it is not restricted to one section.

    Colonial administration was grossly unfair to Muslims. Nigeria was Christianised by Britain and Muslims bore the brunt. We suffered forceful conversion, denial of rightful employment and even worse forms of persecution. But what is most disappointing is the policy of exclusion adopted by post-independence governments.

    On a final note, we demand full integration and full recognition as bona fide citizens of Nigeria, not second or third class citizens. We are the aggrieved party. The British most brutally and most unjustly took all we had from us, giving us nothing in return and offering no relief. It has continued to give us a feeling of rejection, marginalization, denial of the dividends of democracy and lack of a sense of belonging. The time for redress is now and our six-point relief is here for all to digest.

    Professor Ishaq Akintola,
    President,
    Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

     

  • Reports of 2014 confab can solve Nigeria problems if implemented – Falae

    Reports of 2014 confab can solve Nigeria problems if implemented – Falae

    Olu Falae, National Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Presidential Candidate of defunct All People’s Party (APP) in 1999 has declared that all the socio-economic and political problems that bedevil the country can be resolved if the more than 600 resolutions reached at 2014 National Confab conducted by Goodluck Jonathan-led Presidency were implemented by government of the day.

    The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who was one of active Yoruba leaders that participated at the National Confab, noted that resolutions reached at the Confab already contained the much-talked-about socio-economic and political restructuring, saying a level of considerable autonomy is guaranteed for the regions and federating units.

    Speaking on a radio programme in Akure on Saturday, Falae said, “No doubt, I want to say again, restructuring is the answer where regions and federating units have considerable autonomy.

    “With Some little modifications to reflect the current situations, we have to bring back the authentic constitution at Independence which the Military threw away. That report of the 2014 Confab is going to be the future of Nigeria because during the Confab we had a discussion and listened to one another on issues and we agreed on consensus.”

    But, when SDP National Chairman was asked about his role in the $2.1 billion arms scandal allegedly traced to Sambo Dasuki, retired Colonel and Ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), he insisted that he had no link with the former National Security Adviser who is standing trial for money laundering.

    The elder statesman said the money he received in the run-up to the 2015 General election was N100 million from the People’s Democratic Party through Tony Anenih on behalf of his party, SDP, adding he had not met Dasuki in the last 30 years.

    He said when he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) some time ago, he showed EFCC the bank statement of his party on how the transactions were made, adding that the whole process was purely an agreement between his party and the PDP.

    “Let me say again that I never had anything whatsoever to do with Dasuki in the last 30 years when I saw him last was when he was the ADC to General Ibrahim Babaginda in 1986.

    “The only money I have received on behalf of my party was from the PDP not Dasuki. The PDP approached my party in the run up to the 2015 general election and we had an agreement. It was three days to the election that Chief Tony Anenih sent me N100 million being the Chairman of my party to enable us campaign for our joint candidate.

    “In our Constitution as a party – SDP, the Chairman is in charge of raising funds for the party and before the money came from PDP, I had advanced my party with N100 million and when the money came, I still sent N76 million, making a total of N176 million that came from me to my party”, he clarified.