Chinelo Obogo, Romanus Okoye and Job Osazuwa
As the 2019 presidential election draws closer, a Pan-Igbo group, Nzuko Umunna and The Core Federalists, have re-echoed the need for Nigeria’s next president to restructure the country.
At a briefing, on Tuesday, in Lagos, leaders of the groups, said whoever emerges as president must make strong commitment to Nigerians on his readiness to restructure the country and make it workable, adding that the slow pace of national development, or lack of it, is hinged on dysfunctional structuring.
While announcing its forthcoming event, tagged, “Handshake across Nigeria” with “Nigeria beyond oil,” as its theme, the Administrator of The Core Federalists, Dr. Yinka Odumakin, maintained that for Nigeria to restore its lost glory, the next president must be bold to take the bull by the horn.
Odumakin said restructuring would also bring about a more united Nigeria where everyone would be accepted, irrespective of tribal or religious affiliations.
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“Nigeria continuing without restructuring is like a man who discovered he was heading to Badagry, instead of Ibadan, his intended destination; but insisted on continuing on the wrong route simply because he had gone far.
“He will never get to his destination. Nigeria needs a president who is not sectional but sees the whole country as his constituency.
“That will bring back the united Nigeria, where a Fulani man was a mayor in Eastern Nigeria and Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo man almost became the premier of Western Nigeria,” he said.
He said the theme of the submit which is, “Nigeria beyond oil,” was deliberately chosen because Nigeria achieved more before the discovery of oil.
“Before oil, Saudi Arabia family were coming to University College Hospital, Ibadan, for medical treatment. Today, Nigerians who can afford it go to various places outside the country to seek medical solutions.
“Nigeria beyond oil practically means that Nigeria has to become productive. Various regions in the country were strong in different cash crop production.
“Today, the story is different. Time will come when oil will, apart from finishing, be like ordinary water.
“Countries are finding alternatives to oil. There are vehicles being designed to run on batteries without oil,” he said.
He maintained that over-dependence on oil over the decades had done the country more harm than good; adding that other critical natural and human resources were neglected by successive administrations because of oil.
“Regional and national leaders, political parties and their presidential candidates on restructuring and their willingness to initiate process towards achieving same.
“The Forum will gather thought leaders of the component regions to articulate progressive ideas that could foster national integration and development,” he said.
On his part, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (IENC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, said it was time Nigerians come together to confront their fears for the benefit of all sections of the country.
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He said President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other parties’ presidential candidates would be expected to clearly tell Nigerians how they intend to solve the country’s daunting challenges.
“Nigeria should be courageous to face its problems and find solutions instead of continuing in the old ways that were not working,” he said.