Leaders and elders of the South-East, South-West, South-South, and Middle Belt regions, under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum, said the future of country and democracy remain bleak and therefore needs immediate restructuring.
In a communiqué released on Friday after their national meeting held in Abuja, it stressed that the federal government must restructure the country and enthrone true federalism as was originally entrenched in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions.
The communique said, “The country belongs to all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic representation and political affiliation.”
It added, “Without restructuring, the future of Nigeria and democracy remain bleak and must, therefore, be carried out immediately.”
The group lamented that certain sections of the country have been continually marginalised in the number of states, local governments and even in the appointments to the Federal Executive Council.
According to the communiqué, the calls by the South-East leaders to be appropriately represented on the Federal Executive Council, similar to other geo-political zones, should be heeded.
The group appealed to the federal government to take urgent steps to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, believing that it would promote peace and security in the South-East and the country as a whole.
The meeting had in attendance leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere; the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Middle Belt Forum.
The meeting, which was chaired by its leader, Edwin Clark, had in attendance several national leaders, including the leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; President, MBF, Pogu Bitrus; and, National Chairman, PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, among others.
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