Niger Delta Leaders Give FG 90-Day Ultimatum to Restructure Nigeria
- The federal government under the leadership of President Buhari asked been asked to restructure the country
- According to Niger Delta leaders, the federal government has been given a 90-day ultimatum to grant this wish
- Meanwhile, they vowed that they will not tolerate any oppressive behaviour from the government towards the region
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A strong message has been sent to the federal government. The message was sent by the southsouth geo-political zone.
Leaders in the zone after a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, in efforts to drive home their demand for a new way of doing things in the country, gave the federal hgovernmment a three-month ultimatum to start the process of restructuring Nigeria.
The leaders also called on the APC led federal government to convene a national dialogue for the purpose of charting a new course for the country, The Nation reports.
Source: Depositphotos
In a communiqué at the end of the conference in Port Harcourt, the leaders said restructuring is neccessary to make the country better.
Going further, they called on the FG to ensure the devolution of powers to the states.
Also, the leaders vowed to resist oppressive and repressive tendencies against the Niger Delta region and its people.
The communique read in part:
“We the people of the Niger Delta hereby give the Government of Nigeria a three months window within which to cordially address our concerns towards re-federalising the polity, by convening a national dialogue of the representatives of the ethnic groups in Nigeria to chart a new course for the country.
“We the people of the Niger Delta demand restructuring, with the states as the federating units and devolution of more powers to the states."
Meanwhile, the leaders also called on the FG to stop selling the country's resources to China.
“The Niger Delta people demand that the federal government desists from selling out our resources to the Chinese or Sukuk promoting countries, to secure any project."
Buhari agrees to okay restructuring bill if passed by federal lawmakers
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, June 34 said he would not hesitate to give assent to any amendments to the 1999 Constitution on restructuring.
He made the comment when the national executive of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), led by Professor Benjamin Okaba, visited him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The president noted that the National Assembly, whose responsibility it is to amend the constitution, had concluded regional consultations.
More calls for Nigeria's restructuring
In a related development, some groups in southern Nigeria have scheduled a meeting with the Arewa Consultative Forum on restructuring the country.
The organisations are of the opinion that restructuring is crucial to any meaningful talk aimed at moving the country forward.
Southern groups expected at the meeting with the northern association include pan-Yoruba socio-political group; Afenifere, apex Igbo socio-cultural group; Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, and the Pan Niger Delta Forum.
On his part, a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Robert Achiaga has advised the governments at all levels in Nigeria to embrace dialogue with aggrieved groups in order to end violent agitations in the country.
Fr. Achiaga made the call while speaking to Legit.ng during an exclusive interview held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja recently.
He said violent agitations are caused by young people who have tried to express themselves but were not given attention by the authorities.
Source: Legit.ng
