Without doubts, Nigeria is a twisted federation. She needs an urgent restructuring if leaders really want the country to take her prime place in the comity of nations. But efforts to address the problematic national question have always been aborted with ethno-religious sentiments.
There is so much suspicion by the component sections of the country. As it is today, all forms of agitations in the country, be it of the Sharia/Islamic State in the North by the Boko Haram, the resource ownership by the Niger Delta militants, Biafra by the Igbo people or the Oodua Republic by the Yoruba- are all quest for restructuring.
Holding down hitherto autonomous ethnic nationalities by force will not endure forever. It has, therefore, become imperative to put away morbid fears, and restructure the Nigerian federation in such a way and manner that guarantees inclusiveness and property rights. The cry for a better Nigeria is not a selfish matter.
This is why the latest move by senators of the Southern Senators’ Forum should not be mere politics because of 2019. They have expressed their commitment to ensuring an equitable, progressive and prosperous Nigeria.
Chairman of the forum, Hope Uzodinma, in a statement on Sunday, said the lawmakers would continue to canvass for lasting solutions to issues affecting Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnicity or religion.
According to him, the forum has scheduled a retreat for this month to discuss national issues, including the protection of ethnic minorities in the country, adding that issues for discussion at the retreat would also include the imperative of restructuring in a multi-religious country as Nigeria and the role of the legislature in a constitutional democracy.
He stressed that the sustenance of national unity in a restructured Nigeria would equally be discussed.
He said, “The Southern Senators’ Forum is a consultative assembly of serving senators from the southern states of the federation which has been in existence since the advent of democracy in 1999.
“The forum seeks to evoke progressive conversations among the peoples of the southern parts of the country through their elected representatives in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.
“Since it is a non-partisan consultative group, the soothing impact of the forum in proffering progressive path for knotty issues that face the diverse peoples of our country is of optimum value to the sustenance and deepening of our nation’s democracy.”
Uzodinma further said the forum would continue to partner other consultative fora, captains of industries, religious leaders and professionals, in its bid to ensure a sustainable democracy, adding also that the forum would also partner traditional institutions, governmental and non-governmental organisations in sustaining its legacy for a dynamically changing world order.