Community leaders gather in Yenagoa demanding that Buhari restructures the federation

COMMUNITY leaders from across the country gathered in the Bayelsa State capital Yenagoa yesterday to drive home their demand for immediate restructuring of the Nigerian federation.

In what was could easily pass for one of the single largest gatherings of ethnic nationalities in recent times, leaders drawn from the Niger Delta, southwest, southeast and the Middle Belt, converged on Yenagoa. Most of those who spoke highlighted the need for the President Muhammadu Buhari government to expedite action and begin the process of renegotiating the current federal structure.

Former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who is currently on a mission to Sierra Leone as an election observer, in a prepared speech read on his behalf by Senator Nimi Barigha Amange, maintained that the 2014 confab report spearheaded by him remains the most inclusive roadmap to pulling Nigeria from the brink. Some other leaders from all parts of the country who were present during the event organised by the Pan Niger Delta Forum  were Chief Edwin Clark, Ohanaeze Ndigbo president Chief John Nwodo and a chieftain of the pan Yoruba socio-cultural group Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

Former secretary to the government of the federation, Chief Olu Falae, former Plateau State governor Senator Jonah Jang, leader of the Middle Belt group Dr Bala Takaya, Senator Stella Omu, Walter Ofonagoro, Asari Dokubo and representatives of governors from the region also spoke during the event. Recalling the efforts he made as president to change the current trajectory of the country, Dr Jonathan called for a united country.

Dr Jonathan said: “I am delighted that Nigerians of various ages, classes and trade and of diverse faith and different zones are showing deep commitment to this spirit-lifting debate towards arriving at a practical and acceptable solution that will guarantee a better future for our country and our hardworking citizens. I am even more delighted that this geopolitical zone, the Niger Delta is quite upbeat about the public consultation and debate going on across the country.

"This is heart-warming because it’s a pointer to the fact that the Niger Delta has come a long way from the time of unease and militancy to the present situation where the people of the zone can gather to hold a peaceful dialogue and conversation on how best to move our federation forward.  Last month Hon Seriake Dickson, my state governor, who is playing a role in this consultation led a delegate of key Niger Delta leaders to my office in Yenagoa to brief me on the work being done by the committee set up by this group, so I consider today’s event as the culmination of those efforts."

In his presentation, Chief Falae pointed out that it would be difficult to achieve the kind of consensus achieved by the 2014 national conference. He added that without incentive or intimidation all delegates signed the document, stressing that President Buhari cannot turn round and say he is not implementing the report.