Arewa youths seek inclusion of referendum in constitutional amendment
- The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) says the inclusion of referendum clause in the constitutional amendment will pave the way for the restructuring of the country
- Alhaji Shettima Yerima, the national chairman of the group, disagrees with the position of President Buhari’s administration that only the National Assembly can restructure the country
- Yerima criticises Nigerian past and present leaders for not including the referendum clause in the country’s several constitutions
The National Assembly has been urged by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) to include the referendum clause in the constitutional amendment to pave the way for the restructuring of the country.
Alhaji Shettima Yerima, the national chairman of the group, disagreed with the position of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration that only the National Assembly can restructure the country, The Nation reports.
Yerima explained that the only duty of the National Assembly is to include the provision of referendum in the constitution to allow the nation carry out a nation-wide vote on restructuring report from the 2014 conference or the report of any other conference as may be decided by Nigerians.
He criticised Nigerian past and present leaders for not including the referendum clause in the country’s several constitutions.
He said referendum would have guaranteed member-ethnic nations’ right of self-determination as contained in the United Nations’ Charter.
Yerima noted that the country would have been saved the violent effects of agitations by militant ethnic groups in the country and other secessionist groups if the referendum clause had been in the constitution
He said the situation under the present political structure cannot change the high level of poverty ravaging the vast majority of Nigerians and the low level of development across the country.
The AYCF chairman pointed out that no amount of constitutional amendment by the National Assembly or bail-out to the states from the federal government would bring any significant improvement in the life of the people or improve infrastructural development unless the country carried out a fundamental restructuring.
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In another news report, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has demanded explanation from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the alleged arrest and humiliation of northerners resident in Lagos state.
In a statement made available to Legit.ng on Monday, December 9, and signed by its president, Yerima Shettima, the group also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the governor to order.
The group accused the state of hounding the northerners, mostly commercial motorcyclists, with the state's task force, who go to the homes of the residents at odd hours to effect arrest.
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Source: Legit.ng
