Enugu—A coalition of 42 South East and South-South groups,
yesterday, met in Enugu State, to finalize plans for the mega rallies
to sensitise Nigerians towards “restructuring the country along the
lines of true federalism.”
According to the organisers, the rallies earlier planned
to hold in 13 cities and towns in the South East, would now hold in 20
cities and towns within the two zones.
Speaking, the convener of the meeting and the founder of
Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, Evangelist Elliot Uko said, that the peaceful
marches for true federalism had become important since the country had
been run as unitary administration, imposed by the military since 1966.
He said: “For 49 years, Nigeria has been boiling
consistently, sometimes silently seething with rage inside; sometimes
the lava would hot up and the hot coke gushes out like a volcanic
eruption.
“Imposed peace of 1970 has worn out, everybody is on edge.
June 12, 1993 election would not have been annulled if Nigeria was
practising true federalism. It was annulled because of the
winner-takes-all altitude of any holder of central power in Nigeria,
which keeps the stakes so high that the struggle for centre is usually
fierce and victory usually vindictive.
“The Niger Delta militancy and Boko Haram, among others,
would never have happened if Nigeria practised true federalism where
regions are free to develop their zones, according to their culture,
faith and style. We have been deceiving ourselves for too long.
“With Boko Haram still on the rampage in the North East
and Shiite Muslims wahala erupting now in the North West, added to the
Biafra agitation in the East, you’ll wonder why any sensible person will
want Nigeria to continue with this unacceptable 1999 Constitution. The
belief of the Federal Government that force will quench this tension is
false and counter-productive.
“Nigeria clearly needs a new constitution, one built on true federalism. This unitary structure is clearly not working.”
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