The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has said that Southern groups like Afenifere and others, cannot blackmail the Federal Government to restructure Nigeria.
ACF said restructuring Nigeria is a serious business that must take account of the views of all its citizens, and not just of those that shout the loudest or issue threats, intimidation or blackmail.
Afenifere has been in the forefront of the call for restructuring Nigeria to give power to tap into resources in their domain for development of the state and establishment of state police, among others.
Afenifere has been in the forefront of the call for restructuring Nigeria to give power to tap into resources in their domain for development of the state and establishment of state police, among others.
The Northern socio-cultural group in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting said, present democratic structure in Nigeria provides ample opportunity for groups and individuals to present their agitations through their representatives in the National and States Assemblies.
According to the communique signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, “On the issue of the long running debate as to whether or not to restructure the Federation of Nigeria, ACF observed with regret that most of those discussions are taking place without regard to decorum or civility, as the issues are often presented as “demands” by one group or the other.
“Unfortunately, in most cases, they are followed up by some ultimatum to the authorities to accept or face deadly consequences. Some groups refer to restructuring to mean “true” federalism, others call it “resource control”.
“However, restructuring a complex, big and diverse country as Nigeria is a serious business that must take account of the views of all its citizens, and not just of those that shout the loudest or issue threats, intimidation or blackmail.
“Moreover, our present democratic structure provides ample opportunity for groups and individuals to present their agitations through their representatives in the National and States Assemblies.
“Moreover, our present democratic structure provides ample opportunity for groups and individuals to present their agitations through their representatives in the National and States Assemblies.
“Nigeria now faces more serious security challenges, social and economic problems like the destruction of our oil pipelines by the Niger Delta Militants, Boko Haram insurgency, youth restiveness, drastic drop in oil revenue, unnecessary killings and kidnapping of innocent persons etc that require all hands to be on deck, rather than diverting the attention and resources of government on an issue that could be tackled by our present democratic structure.
“ACF therefore, considers such agitations at this material time as diversionary and a misplaced priority,” ACF said.
On the security challenges, ACF said, despite the efforts of the Military and other security agencies in tackling insurgency, militancy, kidnapping and indiscriminate killings of innocent persons by unknown gunmen, the menace is becoming a serious threat to peaceful coexistence of Nigerians that have lived peacefully over the years.
According to the communique, “the recent killing of the traditional ruler of Bokkos Local Government Area in Plateau state, the Saf Ron Kulere, Lazarus Agai and the kidnap of another traditional ruler in Benue state for ransom and many others, raise serious concern.
“ACF therefore condemns in strong terms the dastardly act of the unknown gunmen who killed Saf Ron Kulere, Lazarus Agai and calls upon the security agencies to not only fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crimes but also to prosecute them to serve as deterrent to others.”
COMMENTARY BY EZE
Did u notice that in the mentioned social issues, the ACF did not mention the Fulani Militia which is the world's 4th deadliest terrorist group?but only worried about the loss of Nigeria their zoo,. We will have Biafra restored, and we will return to rule over all those terrorists by God's grace. Isee!
Eze Afrika
