Nigeria’s Future Will Remain Bleak Without Restructuring – Afenifere, Ohanaeze, Others

Leaders and elders of the South-East, South-West, South-South, and Middle Belt regions under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) have called for the restructuring of the country as it was originally entrenched in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions.

The group insisted that the country belongs to all citizen irrespective of their ethnic representation and political affiliation.

Speaking via a communiqué released on Friday after their national meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, the group said that the future of Nigeria would remain bleak without restructuring.

“Without restructuring, the future of Nigeria and democracy remain bleak and must, therefore, be carried out immediately,” the group said.

The SMBLF was represented by leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere; the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Middle Belt Forum.

According to the group, certain sections of the country have been continually marginalised in the number of states, local governments and even in the appointments to the Federal Executive Council.

It noted that the calls by the South-East leaders to be “appropriately represented on the Federal Executive Council similar to other geo-political zones” should be heeded.

The meeting which was chaired by its leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had in attendance several national leaders including the leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; President, MBF, Dr Pogu Bitrus; and, National Chairman, PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, amongst others.