Clark, Adebanjo others insist on restructuring

Prominent leaders of the South and Middle Belt yesterday met Senate President Bukola Saraki, demanding that devolution of power be reconsidered in the amendment of the country’s constitution.

The leaders including Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd), Prof Banji Akintoye, Chief John Nwodo, Victor Attah and 12 others insisted that restructuring the country would address its challenges.

The devolution of power was rejected last year by both chambers of the National Assembly when lawmakers voted in the ongoing constitutional amendment.

The elder statesmen numbering about 20 took turn to speak on the need to revisit the restructuring. After a brief talk by Clark, he requested Chief Nwodo, the President- General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to speak.

Nwodo said the country at the moment stands on the precipice with rising insecurity and dwindling economy.

He said they decided to meet with the leadership of the Senate, “Because the Parliament is the microcosm of the country, so we believe by visiting you today we have come to speak to the entire country.”

He said they were at the Senate to seek the revisit of devolution of power. He said if the country was restructured, production would increase and that there would be mutual respect between all parts of the country.

Nwodo who said contrary to perception that devolution of power would deny the North benefits from crude oil money, observed Agriculture, the mainstay of the North was the way to go.

For his part, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a chieftain of Afenifere said the solution to the problems facing the country was in the report of the 2014 National Conference convened by former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Adebanjo, who traced the country’s problems to the military interventions, said the 1999 Constitution cannot address the challenges facing the country.

According to him, anything outside restructuring won’t lead the country to the path of development and progress.

Describing restructuring as a process of going back to true federalism, he said it is the only instrument that would lead Nigeria to greater height.

“The Constitution does not make us all inclusive. Please take your time to read the recommendations of the 2014 national conference. I agreed, it was not organized by this administration but if it is the only instrument that will keep us together let us embrace it.

“You can’t live together without agreeing on the term of living together. Can you have a company without a memorandum of association? We want to live together but we want to agree on the term to live together,” he said.

Dan Suleiman said the 2014 conference report contained the solution to the problems of the country, saying “As far as middle belt is concerned, we are in support of it implementation.”

Saraki said the National Assembly will continue to stand on what is right. He said they have promised to revisit the devolution of power.