Northern elders say no serious group from the north is against restructuring
- The Northern Elders Forum has restated its position on the clamour for restructuring Nigeria
- According to the elders, one of the regions that will benefit from the major changes in the country is the north
- The forum also denied claims that any northern group is against the call for restructuring
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Following Governor Nasir El-Rufai's comments that northern leaders are opposing restructuring Nigeria, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has distanced itself from the statement, The Punch reports.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the NEF director, publicity, and advocacy, in an interview on Wednesday, November 25, explained that the Kaduna state governor could not have been referring to its leadership under Prof. Ango Abdullahi.
However, Baba-Ahmed speaking further noted that this is because the organisation has campaigned for restructuring more openly and vigorously than any group.
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According to him, there are records of the forum supporting the call for the country to be restructured, adding that it is a crucial requirement for Nigeria's survival as a united, functional, and just entity.
Baba-Ahmed said:
“We believe the North will be a major beneficiary of major changes in the manner our federal system is designed and functions.
“We do not know of any serious northern group that is against restructuring. If there are such groups, they must be speaking to the Governor in private, and they certainly do not represent the interests of the North.”
Legit.ng recalls that Governor El-Rufai said that the northerners kicking against calls were not speaking for the north.
He said the committee that produced the draft bill on restructuring had to step it down to prevent the bill from being politicised.
According to him, the draft bill was submitted to the federal government in January 2018 by the El-Rufai-led committee.
Meanwhile, Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to review the report of Governor El-Rufai's committee established in 2017 on restructuring immediately.
The group who made the call after a meeting at the residence of its leader, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, noted that the country would be saved from further social disaster.
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