Since the recent quit
order given to the Igbo ethnic group by some elements in the north that they
quit the northern region, there have been reactions and counter reactions from
various quarters for and against the order which I consider as the height of
the madness that has pervaded the irredentist tendencies of groups and
individuals in the country.
But as I ponder through
all what is happening and the fear of what may take place if we continue to
sweep very important issues under the carpet as we are always wont to be doing,
I become more convinced that a major solution to the problems that has been bedeviling
the country has been proposed by former vice President of the country Alhaji
Abubakar Atiku but because of what I have earlier stated was a major problem in
the country which is sweeping salient issues under the carpet and pretending as
if they never exist, Nigerians especially those in authourity have looked the
other way with some terming the patriotic call by Alhaji Atiku as a political
gimmick to gain sympathy in order to run for the forthcoming Presidential
elections of 2019.
The question is do we want
this house to collapse on our head before we will learn our lessons to do the
needful? It is time for us to wake up and see reasons in what our leaders
especially genuine and patriotic leaders like Atiku Abubakar are saying even if
we don’t like their faces. The truth is that the country needs restructuring in
order to address the complicated nature of our existence. This is something we
must seriously address in order to move forward as a country and looking the
other way or pretending to think it is not important, will only spell doom for
us.
This threat by the
northern youths and the counter threats from various quarters especially from the
Igbo ethnic group is not just a threat to the territorial integrity and unity
of the country but a threat to the democracy which we have painstakingly tried
to sustain all these years. Efforts to look at issues from ethnic, religious,
regional, sentimental or whatever negative perspective which we look at it will
not do the country any good.
Nigeria needs
restructuring this is the truth and we must see how we can do our best to
ensure that it is made possible. It may not necessarily be the way the former
Vice President wants it but we must understand his position and heed his
clarion call for the country to be restructured. All the talk of his calling for
restructuring in order to attract sympathy for his presidential bid amounts to
nothing. Come to think of it is it that as a Nigerian he Atiku Abubakar cannot
be the President of this country or is it that he does not have what it takes
to bring about progressive change in the country? As much as I believe that it
is still early to be talking about the Presidential ambition of any individual,
we must learn to speak the truth and do the needful no matter how painful it
might be or if we don’t like the face of those that tell is the truth.
Our great country haven
suffered the disaster of a civil war before, cannot afford to be plunged into
another round of a civil war or whatever crisis again. We must do all we can to
avoid such a scenario even if it means restructuring.
Late President Umar
Musa Yaradua did not bring sentiments to play when he heeded calls by the
present Waziri of Adamawa by establishing the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs
and granting amnesty to Niger Delta militants. The resultant effect of such humility
is evident in the relative peace that exists today in the region and the
economic gain which the country made through the stability in the oil sector
which was highly affected by the militancy. We can do same by heeding to better
advice especially as it has to do with restructuring.
The country has changed
today from what it used to be during the amalgamation and early post
independence era. We cannot pretend not to understand that we can rejig the system
in order to cement our unity and make the country stronger. This I believe is
what Atiku Abubakr wants and he should be encouraged to continue to suggest better
ways to move the country forward and not to be vilified for his patriotism.
Ogbu Francisca is a Port Harcourt based legal practitioner and a member of the Atikulate Movement
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