From: David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
Bishop on the Niger of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, has appealed to Biafra agitators to accept restructuring as the only panacea to Igbo marginalisation instead of insisting on secession.
Speaking in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Wednesday, Rev. Nwokolo said since other ethic nationalities had added their voices asking for structuring, the only option left to the Federal Government would be to listen to the voice of reason and for aggrieved sections of the country to accept the generally canvassed system as a lasting solution to many crises plaguing the nation.
“There is need for the restructuring of Nigeria as a panacea to the economic and other crises facing the country. Restructuring would consider the need to have decentralized regions or zones akin to the political idea before the Nigeria civil war, so that each zone can develop at its own pace. The monolithic unitary system which masquerades as a federal system of government must be jettisoned, if the Nigerian nation is to survive,” the Bishop posited.
The clergy also urged the Federal Government not to pay lip service to the call, saying there was need for urgent implementation of the system “because delay is dangerous.” He said that government should instil the spirit of patriotism in Nigerians. He regretted a situation where government had no social security scheme for its citizens “unlike in the United States and United Kingdom where reverse is the case.”
The Bishop made reference to the yet to be implemented national conference report of 2014 which he described as the key to national unity. He maintained that the report of the conference held solution to the political crisis and multitude of agitations facing Nigeria.
Bishop Nwokolo insisted that the conference report should neither be jettisoned nor be part of dustbins of history as its non-implementation could make or mar the nation’s forward march to its promised land.
On Anambra State, the cleric commended Governor Willie Obiano for the achievements he had recorded so far in security, agriculture, oil and gas. He noted that the recent flag off at Umuleri of Anambra City Airport Project is a step in the right direction. He further noted that despite the ongoing economic recession, Anambra State is fast developing as a commercial hub of the nation.
He, however, urged the Governor to steadfastly complete the projects started by his predecessor to avoid the issue of abandoned projects in Anambra State.
“We commend him on the ones he has completed and those that are ongoing. Yet, there are projects that are not being attended to. Some of those, seemingly abandoned, projects have their parts to play in the socio-economic development of our State. Also, we request the Governor to review the decision to place a barrier at the three newly constructed fly-overs in the State capital. The decision to place the barrier on such a busy federal expressway looks strange and could be a death trap,” the Bishop noted.